The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-07
Choosing a Calling.

To the Edltor:-It is a matter of vast
Importance to choose the ealHngain life
we are fitted for; especially the calling
God has designed for US There is a
special work for each one to do. God
never put any sane person in the world
to live without honorable employment.
Men ought to be much more interested
in this matter than women. The range
of mans work is so much broader than
that Of women. woman. in the very
nature of things, is not fitted for, or ex-
pected to engage in so many different
occupations as men. She Is limited, main
ly, to the one noble, blessed work Of
home making. In addition to this, she
may choose to be a teacher, or writer, or
to do missionary work. But men have so
many different callings opened to them
that the greatest care needs to be ex-
ercised in choosing a calling they can
engage in, and make it success. Many
man fails because he chooses the wrong
calling, or because the calling he chooses
IS So crowded with other workers, that
there is but little room for success.
In law and medicine, but few men have
the superior ability, coupled with the en-
ergy and push to rise to eminence in their
profession. In most of the other calhngs.
men Of ordinary ability, may forge their
way ta the front, and be successful. But
after all much depends on a man choos-
ing the work he ought to do. Manual
labor is honorable and necessary, and
somebody must perform it. But a man
should carefully decide whether he will
be a farmer, mechanic, or business man;
and be sure that he has aiken the work
he can do to the best advantage.
1 believe the Lord will direct men to
the right calling in life, if they will ask
Him for guidance. Commit thy way
unto the Lord. and He viii direct thy
steps" l once heard one of the most emf
nent men of the South say; that when he
was a young man he was a professed
Christian, and had some impressions to
preach. But he fought back those i'm
pressions, and resolved to be a great
lawyer. But after a trial of two or three
years, he made a complete failure. He
then determined to make himself a great
name as a medical doctor But he failed
again. He then tried lecturing, and then
a business life; but in all he failed. He
thus wasted eight or ten years of his
young manhood. The conviction fastened
upon him, that he was not doing what
the Lord wanted him to do. So he asked
the Lord to show him what he would
have him do, and the Lord renewed
the impression, that he should preach.
He entered the ministry and has given
himself wholly to that work, and today
is one Of the most eminent miisters of
the South. As the Lord hedged up this
mans way, as he did the way of Balaam,
Numbers, chapter %, so He often hedges
up the way of many and they make fail
ures, because they are not going in the
way the Lord would have them go.
There is always room, and happiness,
and success in the field God selects for us.
ut is a blessed thing to work under the
guidance OF one who makes no mistakes
or failures.
These thoughts may be helpful to the
many who have just graduated from our
schools and are going out to begin their
hfe-work. J. A. STRADLEY.
oxford, NJ c., June g.