Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-06-19
COMMUNE WITH YOURSELF.
Enter into thy closet, and when thou has
shut the doOr.-Matthew, vi, g.

Enter into thy closet, and when thou hast
shut the door.-Matthew, Vi, 6.
Very few men put themselves under
a microscope and look at their souls
with the sharp eye of critical analysis.
Self-examination is a prime duty,
but duty which we either neglect al
together or perform with reluctance.
The consequence is that great
many of us have yet to make our own
acquaintance.
70 use laundering bit of rhetoric
in order to illustrate this statement,
our estimate of ourselves is so differ
ent from what we really are that we
could pass ourselves on the highway
without a nod of recognition.
If we knew ourselves thoroughly we
should work with more economy of
energy and to far better purpose.
If we knew what we are best adapt
ed to do, and had an Inventory of the
mental and moral material in our pos
session to do it with, there would be
fewer signs and less heart breaking.
Calm, quiet, relentless self examina
ton, however, is the most irksome task
which we ever set ourselves. and we
gladly avail ourselves of every excuse
to avoid it.
The simple truth is we have a Turk
ing suspicion that we are not as large
or as faithful or as strong or as noble
as we like to think ourselves, and We
rather fear to look into the matter lest
our suspicious should be corroborated.
We enjoy the flattery or the impul
sive praise of our friends and try to
persuade ourselves that the praise or
the tlattery is deserved.
In a word IL ic a universal fam II th q
we prefer to see ourselves through a
magnifying glass, and have no desire
to know the exact truth.
When a contractor undertakes to
build house his first business Is to
find out whether the necessary timber
and stone are within reach. He has
the plan of the house always in mind,
and so knows what he must do and
what he has to do it with. Each of
his laborers has a tool chest, and if
any one should apply for work not
having the proper tools, or not know
ing how to use them, he would be
treated with scornful contempt In
practical life, when one wishes to earn
his living, he must know his trade and
have at hand the instruments which
alone can make him an available arti-
san Nothing could be more absurd
than for man to apply for work as
carpenter or mason who was ignorant
of his ability to do what he is to be
paid wages for doing.
The same rule applies when we are
engaged in building a character. The
wise man is a student. He knows
what elements go to make up char
acter, and whether he is in possession
of those elements, or, if not. whether
it is possible to develop them, and
whether character is worth the sacri-
fees which must be made in order to
construct it. All this self examination
is his equipment, and when he has
reached his conclusions he can work
intelligently and successfully.
If he is a foolish mainland most of
US are foolish in this respect = he
neither knows much about the mate;
rial in his own soul, with which he is
to do his work, nor the plan according
"a consequence has no defniteness of
he begins with ignorance he is apt to
end with disappointment.
See the wrecked lives scattered along
the shores of timel What more pathet-
ic picture can be conceived than that
of man who has made the worst of
himself? His early hopes and ambi-
tions. like the timbers of a stranded
vessel, lie bleaching in the sun. The
waves that break on the beach sound
like dirge, and you can hear in the
air the tolling of bells Why has this
misfortune befallen? In most cases
because he had no high aim, and wss
governed by impulse rather than con-
viction. If he had known himself
more accurately his life would not be
the tragedy it is.
What can we do, then, to keep our
selves from making these fatal mis-
takes? Here is very practical ques
ton. The clergy will tell you to ''get
religion" But religion is not a thing
to be plucked from tree like peaches.
True, you must have religion, but
where is it and what is it?
A very simple rule will unfold the
great secret. Acquire the habit of
self communion, and everything else
will follow. Spend thirty minutes
every day in the silence of your own
chamber, talking to your soul about
the great concerns of life, and it will
not be long before you have God to
keep you company. Quiet, restful
contemplation is more magical than
magic llSelI. LII is utterly Impossible
for a man to think about himself for
half an hour without becoming assam
ed of himself, and shame after little
will transmute itself into resolution
Look over your purpt ses and motives
critically and impartially; shut out the
world and unfold yourself to yourself.
Examine your hopes and fears, com
ing to deliberate judgment concern
ing their value, and you will find soon
er or later that invisible beings who
walk the earth both when we wake
and when we Sleep are your welcome
companions. There is nothing so near
ly omnipotent, SO transferring. moth
ing that can so quickly bring you self
control, contentment and the cons
ciousness of Gods presence in your life
as quiet examination in solitude.
You will find it a Jacobs ladder up
which you daily climb to heavenly.
"