LIVES THAT LIFT by John G. Woolley

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 9, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 15.

LIVES THAT LIFT.

By John G. Woolley

“—until the whole was leavened.”

It is the heroic quality that lifts men—themselves and others—that audacity of confidence in an idea that makes one leave all and follow it, that splendor of insensibility to personal ease or advantage that can not even see a short cut via compromise, that all-or-nothingness that can not cipher fractions.

Say to a yeast cell, Be satisfied with half a loaf! Say to a grain of salt, Hem in some spots and leave them for gangrene! Say to a Christian, Join yourself to the least of two evils! The very thought abashes.

Yeast as an illustration makes no great appeal to the imagination. But it lifts, and the kingdom of heaven is like it. People do name children and streets for sudden heroes; but it is not safe.

There is many an “old maid” school-teacher who will outshine a whole succession of admirals, when “the books” are opened. There is many a frontier circuit rider whose shoe-latchet many a bishop is not worthy to unloose. There is many a proud church steeple that in the eye of God is out of sight below the poke bonnet of some slum lassie of the Salvation Army or the Volunteers.—John G. Woolley.