IN the principal subway stations of New York there is a watchman, who, thruout the day, stands with megaphone in hand, and shouts to the rushing, surging crowds of humanity as they hurry to and from the cars—"Watch your step, Watch your step," lest they carelessly pass in the way of the swiftly moving trains, or stumble upon the stairs.
Even so in Life's journey, we must heed the warning voice, lest we take one misstep from the right path. Life is made up, not of great deeds or duties, but of little things; therefore it is essential if we would reach the one great goal to weigh every thought, to consider each motive, and guard each word. For as a pebble dropped into quiet waters creates a ripple that, ever widening, disturbs the whole surface, so our words and actions, tho seemingly of slight import, may set in motion elements wholly beyond our control. Likewise one misstep may change to eternal ruin the course of many lives.
It is the smiles and kindnesses and small obligations given habitually which win and preserve the heart and secure comfort; for the small things are often molds of our future.
Did you ever stop to observe the origin of the failure of mankind? They are examples of the effect of trifles—as they seemed when passing over them—for as truly as one blade of grass listlessly dipping over the bank of a stream may change the course of a river, just as certainly do little sins and seemingly insignificant errors change the destiny of a life. Of this be assured, that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
"The tissue of the life to be
We weave with colors all our own;
And in the field of destiny,
We reap as we have sown."
It is the little sins that clog the wheels of life and cause them to jar in their running—that bring discord, sorrow, and discontent to darken the light of life.
It is not necessary to break the glasses of the telescope or coat them over with paint to prevent our seeing thru them. No, only breathe upon them, and the dew of our breath will shut out the eternal stars. It does not require great crimes and iniquities to hide us from the light of God's countenance; little faults and misdeeds will do it just as effectually.
Henry Ward Beecher once said, "Take a shield and cast a spear upon it, and it will leave one great dent; prick it over with a million needle darts, and it will take the polish off far more than the piercing of the spear. It is not the great sins which take the freshness from our consciences so much as the numberless petty faults which we are all the while committing and excusing.
"Eternal vigilance is the price of safety," therefore we must "watch our steps." Whether our path leads us thru the highlands by the flowery banks of crystal streams, or, perchance, in the darkness and misery of the valley of death, this one thing we may rely upon, that it is our privilege to know that "He leadeth me," so that "our footsteps slip not."