BE PUNCTUAL by J. O. C.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 26, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 20.

BE PUNCTUAL

By J. O. C.

PUNCTUALITY is the road to both human and heavenly friendships. To meet a person who is always punctual, the feeling at once obtains that he is to be trusted. It was this estimate of men that caused General Washington once to chide a dilatory secretary. The aid was ten or more minutes late at his desk one morning, when Washington said, "You have kept me waiting on your slow movement this morning." The excuse offered by the secretary was that his watch had gone wrong during the night. "Well, then," said the general, "one of two things becomes certain,—either you must get another watch, or I must get another secretary." It is worth while for every one to acquire promptness as an important part of his business capital, lest he fail to meet the demands of life.

But a failure in temporalities from lax habits, leads to failure in spiritual life; for just as surely as the shadow is the image of its product element, so civil and business manners are a true indicator of spiritual attainments. One fails entirely to be a friend of God, who is remiss in walking according to heavenly requirements. J. O. C.