Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-07-11
Commune With Yourself.

Enter into thy closet, and when thou
hast shut the door.-Matthcw, vi, 6.
Very few men put themselves un-
der microscope and look at their
souls with the sharp eye Of critical
analysis.
Self-examination is prime duty,
but duty which we either neglect
altogether or perform with reluc-
tance.
The consequence is that a great
many of us have yet to make our
own acquaintance.
To use a blundering bit Of rheto-
ric in order to illustrate this state
ment, our estimate of ourselves is so
different from what we really are
that we could pass ourselves on the
highway without nod of recogni-
tion.
If we knew ourselves thoroughly
we should work with more economy
of energy and to far better pur-
pose.
IF we knew what we are best
adapted to do, and had an inventory
of the mental and moral material in
our possession to do it with, there
would be fewer signs and less heart
breaking.
Calm, quiet, relentless self-eXam-
ination, however, is the most irk-
some task which we ever set our
selves, and we gladly avail ourselves
of every excuse to avoid it.
The simple truth is we have q
lurking 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 tiattery is deserved.
In word, it is q universal fault
that we prefer to see ourselves
through a magnitying glass, and
have no desire to know the exact
truth.
When contractor undertakes to
build house his first business is to
find out whether the necessary tim
ber and stone are within reach. He
has the plan of the house always in
do and what he has to do it with.
Each of his labOrers has tool chest
and if anyone should apply for work
not having the proper tools, or not
knowing 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 instru-
ments which alone can make him an
available artisan. 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
q character, and whether he is in
possession of those elements, or, if
not, whether it is possible to develop
them, and whether a character is
worth the sacrifices which must be
made in order to construct it. All
this self.eXamination is his equip.
ment, and when he has reached his
conclusions he can work intelligently
and successfully.
If he is a foolish man-and 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 ac.
cording to which he is to shape his
life, and as consequence has nc
} detiniteness Of purpose and wastes
, his energies, for if he begins with
ignorance he is apt to cpd with dis,
appointment.
See the wrecked lives scattered
; along the shores of time! What
: more pathetic picture can be con
ceived than that of man who has
made the worst Of himself? His
} early hopes and ambitions, like the
timbers of q stranded vessel, lie
bleaching in the sun. The waves
g that break on the beach sound like
dirge, and you can hear in the all
< the tolling of bells. Why has this
misfortune befallen? In most cases
: because he had no high aim, anC
Q was governed by impulse rather thar
conviction. If he had known him
Q self more accurately his life wOulC
e not be the tragedy it is.
: What can we do, then, to keel
ourselves from making these fata
q mistakes Here is a very practica
1 question. The clergy will tell you
. to "get religion" But religion i
not thing to be plucked from tre
= like peaches. True, you must hav
religion, but where is it and what il
S it?
l.. A very simple rule will unfold tn
It great secret. Acquire the habit o
8 self-communion, and everything
else will follow. Spend thirty min
o utes every day in the silence of you
# own chamber, talking to your sou
o about the great concerns Of life, an,
n 1t will not be long before you hav
q God to keep you company. Quiet
restful contemplation is more mag