Kansas City journal., 1898-02-20
Stirring EoIks LIN.

OF the good in the world would never be
done but for the doers being stirred up
to it.
Life is much like the sea; there seems al
ways some wind to smite the surface or
some stealthy undercurrent to send its rest
lessness up from the depths.
The lesson is many sided: If fully consid-
cred 1t covers the whole complex question
of life's relationships. 1t is not one part
of the world against the other; part of the
world giving. the other ever receiving i'm
pressions. for one who is stirred up by evil
may be constant impulse to another's
good.
NO matter how weak one may he or how
dependent on others, there is still some
power going forth-consciously or uncon-
sciously-which makes more positive the
good or evil of the worlds conflicting
forces.
We find ourselves pressed by life's i'm
pulses or irritations. Its attractions and
repulsions find ready allies in our inclina-
tions, and often We fall because we under
estimate the opposing forces, or we joyous
ly realize that we have been impelled to a
usefulness We had thought beyond our
power.
The example of Jezebel-the Lady Mac
beth of Scripture, the new woman of
nearly 5000 years ago-is not chosen be-
cause women are more prone to stirring up
evil than men, though blessed is the woman
who "stirs up her husband whenever he
needs 1t. and happy is the man who never
stirs up his wife to anything but good.
We are ready to condemn JeZebel for hav-
ing stirred up Ahab to evil but We often
lose sight of how Ahab Influenced Jezebel.
His negative weakness provoked her posi-
tive badness. We sometimes comfort our
selves that We are not bad because We do
no great sins, forgetful that our very weak
ness may provoke someone else into sin
ming.
Ahab wanted a piece of ground that was
near the royal palace. 1t was the property
of Naboth. who. with true ancestral rever-
ence, refused to part with it. Piqued by
Naboth's refusal. Ahab went to bed, turned
his face to the wall and refused to eat.
Ahab. the king. peevish as a child. because
he could not have his own way, 1t was
then Jezebels murderous plans were
formed. Ahab's peevish sulkiness stirred
up the wickedness of Jezebel. Had he been
noble she would not have been so evil.
Whom Jezebel his wife stirred up
stirred up to evil Had that power been
turned to good even weak Ahab might have
been one of the worlds helpers.
The power for great evil reveals the possl-
bility of great good: the power in the direc-
ton of wrong is the measure of benefit if
turned in the opposite direction.
Who can estimate what the world would
have lost had not Wendell Phillips heard
his true-hearted wife say. wendell, don't
shilly-shally" That put an end to possible
vacillation. Was Lady Palmerston's stir
ring up worth while? She spent her life
in placing and keeping her husband in
his proper position.
What a rare tribute was paid by General
Charles H. Taylor to the memory of Eben
D. Jordan when in Boston Globe editorial
| he said: mo man of my acquaintance ever
possessed a rarer gift of developing the
gifts OF other men, and no one ever helped
others with more patience and generosity
| He stirred up to their best possibilities
| those whom he met; he made them by his
| help what, possibly. they never could have
been without him.
Are those who are near you weak and
sinful because you have not stirred them
| up to their best selves?
| The world will ever be grateful to DIR. W.
Robertson Nicoll for his persistent stirring
up of Ian Maclaren. He gave him no rest
until he led the world to the Bonnie Brier
Bush" which, like the bush Moses saw is
| aglow with God.
| Despondent we sometimes are because
all the world seem against us.
If we but put ourselves In right relations
|
| we shall be masters, not servants, OF fate.
Most happily 1t has been said:
| Like the winds Of the the waves Of fate.
| As We voyage along through life:
| 'Ts the set Of soul
That decides its goal
| And not the calm the strife.
How are you using the forces which come
| upon you? Have you so "set the sails
that the very winds which are intended to
drive you far out on the tempest tossed sea
| shall help you into a harbor of safety? Are
| the burdens numerous and heavy that
they press you to the earth? Then learn OF
the fabled hero who by every touch gained
| increase of strength.
Jesus set His face steadfastly to go to
Jerusalem" because His soul was set on
| doing Gods will. Paul said: "All things
work together for good to them that love
God" To a soul set on doing right even the
| opposing forces will bring benefit.
From the naggings of a jealous wife John
Wesley learned lessons of patience: from
the stormy days of companionship with
scoldng Xantippe Socrates drew lessons oi
| seIf-discipline.
We influence by what We are. Not our
seeming but our being sends forth its in
fuence to stir up to right or wrong. YOU
have watched the groundswell as the waves
dashed. surging and moaning. upon the
rocky shore, and though there was no Wis.
ible cause, you know of the tempest far out
on the ocean. So we influence and are in.
fiuenced.
You have taken in your hand an opal
the sympathetic stone. 1t was dull and
colorless until the warmth of your hanG
caused it to glow with radiance of color
So there are lives about US: dull and unin
teresting they seem. but the stimulus o
human sympathy will make them shine as
with Gods own glory.
You are stirring folks up-to what?