ALWAYS IN A HURRY by MARY ALICE HARE LOPER, M. S.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 9, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 44.

ALWAYS IN A HURRY

By MARY ALICE HARE LOPER, M. S.

True Greatness Is Free from Strenuous Rush — Great Characters Who Have Done Great Things Calmly

By MARY ALICE HARE LOPER, M. S.

MANY persons on the path of life are conspicuous because they never use a muffler when trying to speed up. One who has studied the selfish human "speeder," doubtless has noticed his excitability, irritability, and lack of consideration for his own or others' best good, while painfully conscious that he has at his disposal only twenty-four hours in a day — just the same as the laziest man on earth.

The poet used to sing of the "noiseless tenor" of one's way, indicating an agreeable quietude, and a continuity of action which perpetuated peace and contentment. Those were blessed days before the spirit of selfish competition in both social and business relations had robbed life of its sweetest harmonies — before people had become too frantically busy to plant roses and forget-me-nots in the garden of life, and to enjoy the fruitage of their labors.

SILKEN THREAD OF MODERATION

"Moderation is the silken thread that runs through the pearl chain of all virtues." The man or the woman who does a half day's work before breakfast in the morning, just for the sake of doing something extraordinary, is using up physical force that ought to be spent in a better cause. Some persons always work under pressure, as the uncultured expression of the small boy suggests: "Bridget's peelin' 'taters like you'd think she went by steam."

The individual who is habitually in a hurry, not only uses up his nerve force, but puts forth misguided efforts, and often experiences the truthfulness of the old adage, "The more haste, the less speed."

No one can make real progress along profitable lines, no one can make a success of life, without taking time to read the Bible and to pray. But it is so easy to allow the "care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches," to crowd both out of the daily routine of affairs.

Some become too much rushed at times to practice even the common courtesies of life, much less to pay to the world what they owe it in the way of personal touch and kindly ministration. A man uses his time just as he uses his money. If he uses his money selfishly, he uses his time in the same way. Both are devoted either to the cause of humanity or to the cause of self. With the former practice comes the cheerful contentment that is a "continual feast"; with the latter, a restless experience that is "like the troubled sea."

RATIONALLY BUSY OR FRANTICALLY RUSHED?

There is a great difference between being rationally busy and being frantically rushed. The man who makes the most out of life is deliberate. He spends his God-given time to the best advantage. He accomplishes more for the world, because he conserves his nerve energy, and labors faithfully toward a definite and laudable end. It is a great mistake to form the detrimental habit of being a sort of "rush order" through life. Jesus says, "Come ye yourselves apart, . . . and rest a while." Let the storm of life subside; for "in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." Everything is accomplished by being rationally busy, but everything is lost by being selfishly so.

Truly great minds do not assume the air of always being in a hurry. One of the greatest men of the recent past, whose life work was marvelous in its achievements as a minister of the gospel, an editor, an author, an inventive genius, a language critic, had time to treat every one with due courtesy. His work was intricate and vast; yet he so faithfully practiced the habit of always being agreeable upon interruption, that his callers received a pleasing impression, no matter how great the inconvenience to himself. One of the most blessed memories of his life is found in that remarkable legacy which he left to the world — even members of his own household cannot recall ever having heard him utter one cross word! He was truly a great man. For "he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." He exemplified the character of the greatest Man this world has ever known.

NOT A NOISY BUSTLE

The life of Christ was not one of noise and bustle and loud pretensions. We never read of His being in a breathless hurry about anything, but He was very busy — usefully employed. He went about quietly from place to place, "doing good," His influence being such that the people in great multitudes flocked to hear Him. If a person's work is of importance, people will find it out without his sounding a trumpet to call attention to himself. Christ's work was the most tremendous ever undertaken in this world. But no matter how much He was pressed for time, He never neglected an opportunity to do good to humanity. He always found time to encourage a Zacchaeus, to caution a Peter, to comfort a sorrowing Mary or Martha. Amid the noisy scenes of roaring waves and heaving billows, there was His quiet "Peace, be still." In His arduous efforts to bring the good news of salvation to a lost world, He had time to restore to a blind Bartimaeus his eyesight, and to rehearse the sweet story of the gospel to an inquiring Nicodemus or a lone woman of Samaria. Even the little children learned to love Him, because He had time to be loved. Little children to-day love that person who takes time to devote to their happiness.

TOOK TIME FOR SOCIABILITY

The Saviour of the world had time to practice true sociability. He was the personification of good form, and of all that combines to constitute Christian ethics. When invited to dine in some humble home, He did not search for an excuse for nonacceptance because the people were not of His "social set." On the contrary, it was His pleasure to be present, and to add to the happiness of all about Him. All men were His brethren. He came to die for Judas the same as for the beloved disciple. He knew no exclusiveness in His associations with men, for His love reached the lowest depths of degradation and poverty. He sought to raise the fallen, to encourage the despondent, to lighten the weary burdens of oppressed humanity.

GREAT THINGS WITH LITTLE NOISE

It is a great thing to acquire the art of using one's time as the Redeemer of the world used His — just as a soul here and there conscientiously tries to use his. There is no companionship like that of busy people who accomplish very great things with very little noise. Such lives are an inspiration to others to attempt great things. They are an encouragement to those who really wish to render to the world the best service of which humanity is capable — Christian service. Such persons exemplify the divine admonition, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might" — not with thy mouth. Such lives reveal the workings of that blessed principle, "Let your moderation [not desperation] be known unto all men."

The person who has no time to devote to making others happy, is robbing himself of the greatest happiness this world affords. One who impresses a caller that he is an intruder, is not strengthening the bonds of brotherly love that should bind humanity together; is not making for himself an enviable reputation. If the Redeemer of the world had time for sociability, so have we. But how many there are who keep up such a selfish perpetual motion that they never even take time to encourage a disheartened fellow traveler on the pathway of life! Such individuals are little else than revolving fossils — dead relics so far as benefiting the world is concerned. If one wishes to imitate the Master in going about doing good, he will find that it will take him entirely away from a selfish sphere of action. The sun, not the comet, can be depended

upon for constant illumination. A comet may attract a great deal of attention for the time being, but it soon disappears, while the sun remains constant, a life preserver to all upon this darkened orb. "Ye are the light of the world." Followers of the Master have the enlightenment of His Spirit, are luminous — suns in the terrestrial heavens, whose light penetrates the darkened corners of the earth. Constant illumination is what humanity needs just now. There are many human comets, but very few suns, whose quiet rays are serving as life preservers to sinking humanity on the sea of time.

"Take time to be holy. The world rushes on. Spend much time in secret With Jesus alone. By looking to Jesus, Like Him thou shalt be; Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see."