Your Duty Is to Pick

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 21, 1863

"Your Duty Is to Pick."

The late Rev. Dr. Bangs, the eminently useful Methodist minister, commenced his ministry in a very difficult circuit on the Canadian frontier. As he saw no fruit of his labors, he resolved to give up his license, and had mounted his horse to return home, when, arriving at Grand river, he found it impossible to cross, as the ice was so broken. Returning to his field despondent and confounded, he was encouraged by a remarkable dream. He dreamed that he was working with a pickax on the top of a basaltic rock, upon which, however, he could make no impression. At last he said to himself, “It is useless ; I will pick no more ;” when a stranger of dignified mien suddenly stood by his side, and said, “You will pick no more ?” “No.” “Were you not set to this task ?” “Yes.” “And why abandon it ?” “My work is vain ; I make no impression on the rock.” He replied solemnly, “What is that to you ? Your duty is to pick, whether the rock yields or not. Your work is in your own hands ; the result is not. Go on.” He resumed his task, and at his first blow, given with almost superhuman force, the rock flew into a thousand pieces. He awoke, and returning to his field with fresh zeal and energy, a revival followed, and from that day he was never tempted to give up his commission.