The Tupelo journal., 1903-07-24
THE POWER OF CHOICE.

70 : I
Modern Writers Confirm the Bible
Teaching Regarding This Func-
ton of the Soul.
Some modern writer's have thrown
new light on the power of choice. They
have analysed, says e. P. Tuller, in
the Baptist Union, the nature of choice
and enabled us to see what it really
involves. Many philosophers have
struggled over the matter and argued
for and against the power of making
choices. In the Old Testament it is
evident the people who spoke believed
people could choose. They were COM
manded to choose this day whom We
will serve" And good, sensible pa
rents Of olden times who did not know
much about philosophy, but a good
deal about human nature, did not
spare the rod and spoil the child, but
believed that a good birch rod assist
ed the boys to make a choice of going
to school instead of going swimming.
One of the best recent writer's on the
ihoItCl 10 I'LL. WllildIu JdIlltS, III HIS
Psychology. In a most practical way
he calls attention to the possibility of
choice and shows that where there is a
will there is a way. He contrasts the
action OF the magnet and filings with
that of Romeo and Juliet. In the case
OF the magnet and filings, if there be
no obstacle and conditions are favor
able. the filings will fly to the magnet.
But the path is fixed. II anything in
terferes the filings will not take an
other path to go around and reach the
magnet. On the contrary, with the
lover the end is fixed, the path by
which he reaches the end may be mod
flied indefinitely. Doors, walls, bal
comics, watchers, parents, are nothing.
His power Of choice enables him to
find a way to his love.
So the psychologist further on in
his work shows that we have the
power of selective attention. The mind
presents to us innumerable ideas, but
we select from them what we wish
to adhere to and consider. Among all
the possibilities of being the mind Sc
lects and by reinforcing one and check
ing others forms the path which it
will follow, and becomes the person
whom the soul desires. Further, the
will has power to hold to a definite
thought and end. "The essential
achievement of the will is to attend
to a difficult object and hold it fast
before h mind" From there it fol-
lows that each person not only deter
mines by attention and selection what
he shall think about and what kind OF
a person he shall be, but more than
that he determines what kind Of a
universe he shall inhabit. Each one
makes his own world. Selects his own
material world which is different to
the ant, the bird, the OK. the dog, man,
men," Some people only see the dis
agreeable things; others see the pleas
ant things. BY our power of choice,
therefore, we may see the sunshiny
things of life, be sunshiny and bring
sunshine to others, or the contrary.
Suffice it to say, eah of us literally
chooses by his ways of attending to
ShAASo Whdt oOAt VI O SC uC SHALL
appear to himself to inhabit."
Prof. James gives to us a clear idea
as to choice of what we shall be. He
says: Il am often confronted by the
necessity of standing by one of my
possible selves and relinquishing the
rest. Not that I would not if l could
be both handsome and fat and well
dressed, and a great athlete and make
a million a year, be a wit, a bon-vi-
want, and a lady-killer, as well as a
philosopher, a philanthropist, a tails
man, warrior and African explorer, as
well as a true poet and wit" but the
thing is simply impossible. The mil
lionaire work would run counter to the
saints, etc. So the seeker of the tru-
est, strongest, deepest self must re-
view the list carefully, to pick out the
one on which to stake his salvation.
How this all reminds me of Seton
fThompson's Raggybug. Raggybug, the
little rabbit. was told by his mother
who had hidden him away in his nest
in the sand and rushes, "to lay low
and say nothing" He heard a strange
rustling and wanted to see whence il
came. He crawled out and satisfied
his curiosity. The noise came from a
snake, who Immediately spied bunny
and thought he would have a good
dinner. The result was that Raggy-
bug nearly lost his life and had his
a chewed. So we have the power
Of choice. The strivings and rushings
of life must not draw us away from
the path Of duty. We must lay low
and say nothing, keeping close to the
path of duty il we would survive the
assaults and attractions of evil. We
choose daily what we shall be and do.
Believe In the Best.
--Ys.~z n 1o,I khc< 49,,