Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-08-21
ruE IDEAL LIFE.

.or tbe mountain before the Lord
on King XIX, IL.
n There are times when we who have
,ul vpd constantly in the valleys become
"a, icsatistied with our surroundings,
Oh rith the commonplace scenery, the
ca barrow horizon and contracted vision,
IN nd look with envious eyes to the few
iu rho have succeeded in climbing to the
HE maintain top. Then, under some sud
hon spell, we summon up courage,
estber our feeble strength, and at
h temnt TO climb the steep and rugged
ID eacent. And when at last, after many
7a,s and failures, we reach the sum-
y INIT we are fully rewarded for our ex-
II prtions by the glorious sight before us
n Ind by the exhilaration Of the upper
! alr
Those in the valley can see only
small part Of the worlds wonders
here field, a garden; there a cavern,
river or lake. Upon the mountain
tOp the sublime and awe inspiring
prospect of the worlds wonderful de-
sign beauty, majesty, and power
bursts full upon the eye. From be-
low we saw only few peaks; from
above hundreds of peaks come into
view. hundreds of smaller mountains,
separated by undulations Of green for
ests or by silver threads Of limpid wa
ters. From below we had limited
outlook, saw only our own confined
surroundings-a few peasants, villag-
ers or conceited townspeople; beheld
only petty affairs Of mundane life,
which seemed Of such paramount i'm
portance to the denizens of the valley.
From the heights we have, compare
lively speaking, an almost unlimited
horizon and can see at glance many
cities and villages, and in the distance
hills and valleys, rivers and lakes, and
beyond the mighty ocean embracing
all things From above all great cities
seem but as toy villages, men and
women as tiny miniatures, and our
seemingly vast enterprises as the block
houses Of children at play. Standing
there on the mountain top, in the very
presence Of the Lord, as 1t were, upon
the throne of creation, we seem to
realize a sense Of our greater selves
and our larger possibilities, and to
feel that the people and the things
We have left below are but the chrysa-
lis from which we have escaped; that
the world in the valley is but the step
ping stone to the higher world above.
There are luminous hours in our
lives when the soul yearns to eman-
cipate itself from the limitations un-
der which it was born and has con-
tlnued to exist, and seeks to rise to
some higher estate of manhood or
womanhood. We have at times WIS.,
Ions of men and women who have
risen to spiritual heights which we
aspire to reach. They seem to live on
he mountain tops Of life and enjoy
greater and broader view of human
analrs. They are men Of unusual wis
uom' profound reason, Of uncompro
missing convictions; men who stand on
'ne vantage ground of truth, who love
righteousness, execute justice, and
walk humbly before their God; broad
gauge men, full Of sympathy and love
LOT humanity; wholesouled men and
women who can smile benignly and
speak graciously, yet wisely; philan-
'nropists, lovers of mankind, who tenn
per justice with mercy, judgment with
vharity' and who, like divinity, are pa
ueht' long suffering, and abundant in
kindness and mercy.
IN our better moments we seek to
Aahd upon such lofty plane. Our
ordinary lives seem commonplace,
s'ale' fiat, and improbable" We go
wns'antly through the same routine
VI eating and drinking, sleeping and
waxing. The great masses seem like
thousands and millions and myriads Of
"o'ecuies and organized cells that
.On'riDute to the mechanism of the
universe. We seem often to be only
v, ,he small teeth on the cog wheels
VI human and cosmic life, rotating
"pon one another to move some other
oe' OF wheels, and thus transmit pow
Vs. VITALITY and growth to an infinite
auuioer OF revolving wheels. Now and
..n some Of us rebel against cruel,
" W ieaSt an undesirable, fate or destiny.
-, we aspire to some higher existence
ai' tnat Of the beast; we want to be
~ se'nihg more than merely a part
" a cog wheel; we have an ambition
=, " Ve power that moves the wheel,
y pe a conscious and active directing
M NJ not n mere passive piece of
,naillsm. :, We wish to be not the