Why Not? by Christian Union

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 12, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 31.

Why Not?

By Christian Union

Most men and women have unselfish impulses; they would like to serve some good cause or to help some struggling person. In many cases these impulses never get beyond the stage of impulse; they appear on the horizon of thought, and disappear like beautiful summer clouds; they are radiant, remote, and unfertile. There are some, however, to whom these unselfish desires come more frequently, and are more constantly present, but remain impulse only because there seems to be no way to make them operative. They are perpetually suggesting the performance of a work which the hand seems unable to do because the opportunity is apparently lacking. Such men and women are often envious of those who have been called to harder but more unselfish careers. If such work came to their hand, they are sure they would do it; but what service can they perform in their limited life?

There never was a greater mistake than that which removes the need and want of the world to a distance, which makes people feel that they are shut out from noble unselfishness of thought and action by reason of the narrow range of activity about them. There is no community so small that there is not room in it for the spirit and work of large-hearted and large-minded men and women; there is no village, no remote neighborhood, which does not cry out for the inspiration and help of a great service. The great problems are never at the ends of the earth; they are always at our own doors, and we turn them away as if they were beggars, instead of God's messengers, sent to us with a divine commission for a divine work.

First and foremost, it may be the privilege of every man and woman to enrich the community with one of those noble and unselfish natures which are a perpetual ministration of Heaven in the world; those natures which diffuse cheer and light and faith in high things as the sun diffuses heat and power through the whole atmosphere. The value of one noble man or woman in a community is simply incalculable; no service of the hands, no special work for any cause, is comparable with it in influence and inspiration. The influence of one man who looks over the narrow walls of his own interests, and carries the welfare of his neighbors in his heart and mind, is like the falling of the rain which revitalizes every living thing. This noblest service to your kind is open to you. Does your life touch the community in which you live with the power which stimulates every good enterprise? Does your character mean kindlier feeling, purer religion, better education for and among your neighbors?

—Christian Union.