The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-04-12
Waiting for Opportunities.

1t is one of the most commonest mis-
axes of life, and also one Of the most
adical sources of evil, to wait for op-
,ci tun:ties. Many persons while admit
ing the paucity of their lives, and re-
GREETING that they contribute so little to !
he general stock Of happiness, or to
heir own improvement. attribute it to
heir lack. of opportunity. They are
looking for some marked event. or some |
grand opening, through which they
hope to develop what may be in them,
and thus make potent Il character which
now, for lack of motive, is barren and
unfrnitful The Waste of life caused
by such mistaken waiting is incalcul:-
BILE For the real materials out Of which
our characters are forming, are the
hourly occurrences of every day life.
Every claim of duty. the employment
of each minute, and the daily vexations
or troubles we are c-lled upon to bear,
the momentary decisions that must be
made, the casual interview, the contact
with sin and sorrow in tLeir every day
dress-all these, and many others as
small and as constant. are the real OPP
portunities of life. These are continu-
ally embracing or neglec ing, and out
of them we are fort ing character that
is fast consolidating into the shape we
give it, for good or evil. Those who
are waiting for important events, grand
issues and marked crises, overlook this
great fact and drift aimlessly along the
current that Sc ems to them so placid as
to require no effort, but which is bear
ing down with fatal swiftness all tho c
who do not enegetically breast its waves
and resist its powers.
The best proofs of noble character
lie not so much in the manner OF doing
great things or hearing great burdens,
as in the way of receiving the common
events of every day lfr; of performing
its duties, bearing its crosses, and re-
sisting its temptations. There are not
/ few who look upon the great contest
| Of life with almost longing, WHO fancy
! tina, they would suffer martvrdom with
! firrnness, or severe affiiction with calm
ness while they yet render themselves
and others wretched Nv their discomfort
over trifies, or selfishly refuse TO sac
rifice small interests. while longing in
Inauguration for opportunities 10 sacri
! flee all. The truest heloism Is that
which is unseen, unknown. Public mar
/ tyrGom of every shade has trtain
| eclat and popularity connected with it.
that will often bear men up to endure
! with courage its trials but those who
! suffer aloae, without sympathy. for
! truth or principle; those WHO, unoticed
/ by men, maintain their post, and In OBJ
/ security and amid discouragemen', pa
tientlv fulfil their trust these are the
real heroes Of tie age. ard the age, and
! The suffering they bear is the truest mar
tyftiom.
IL, re ale doubtless in Tie lives of al
in great crises, large opportunities.
them ail. i,e i'll prepared to meet them
when they come. The strength to pass
through them nohy and worthily must
( have Ys. unula- cd little ny little, in the
patient AMI resulute struggle g! every
! day life II who fails here will surely
1 fail in greater things. If we neglect
our little OF portuniiies, we shall lack the
power to embrace the Larger ones =
Cha; ces are lying open to us every no
mcnt OF our lives. We need no. wait
for them. they are waiting tor us TO
embrace them. If we watch through q
single day we shall doubtless discover
| hundreds of opportunities of both do
ing and receiyirg good that we have
hitherto passed ny in Indifference and
/ ty diligent assiiuity in seeking Tor and
| embracing these, shall he prepared
! TO encounter the fierccr storms OF life
that may await us, or To take advantage
of the future tina, may open for our good
Philadelphia Ledger.
lick. cnr,