Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-09-02
THE SPIRIT OF CONFINEMENT.

BY Rev. HufChenS c. Bishop.
Be content with such things as We
have.-Hebrew 1875.
The Interpretation of the above
words doubtless may be best found in
the life and character Of the man who
wrought. There is difference between
"contentment'' and its synonym, sat
isfactiOn," which at the outset we shall
do we'll to remember However fine
this distinction may appear, it is none
the less real, and in the present appli-
cation it is vital.
Contentment may be defined as the
feeling that enables q man to make
the best Of a situation, and not pine
ever that which is unavoidable in it,
nor fret over the hardships which it
entails, while satisfaction is that con-
dition that simply accepts the situation
and finds in it the desires fulfilled, and
derives pleasure from the very limita-
tons that the situation presents.
Certainly st. Paul did not intend that
we should be satisfied with the various
circumstances Of life any more than
he was. Life with him was always
restless, aggressive, strenuous. He
was ever reaching after and pressing
on to something better and higher.
With him there was always more work
to be done and more souls to be won.
SO that when, speaking of himself, he
says, 81 have learned in whatsoever
state I am therein to be content" let
us interpret it by his life, and know
that he was not satisfied with his po-
sition, but that he made the best Of it,
and endeavored to use it for the ac-
complishment of his purposes to the
limit of his opportunity.
And so again when he tells us to ''be
content with such things as we have"
he does not mean it to be the content
Of Indifference, of Incidence, or of I'M
ambitious stupidity. but that content
that expresses itself in industrious
fidelity.
1t is not to be conceived that he
would commend anything less than
this, and surely not the passive accept
ance Of things we have, and the condi-
out a disposition to advance and i'm
prove them. For this would dwarf all
ambition, and stop all progress and
improvement and suspend all growth.
Not to grow is to decay, and ultimate
ly it would result in physical, material,
moral and spiritual death.
There are so many who are passive
ly content with the things they have.
Their needs are few, and if these are
supplied the aim and end of life for
them is reached. This is the spirit that
keeps the poor still poor and the op-
pressed still oppressed. So much of
the hopelessness Of life is due to this
settling down to the daily routine or
drudgery and performing it without en-
ergy or purpose.
Again, the apostle warns against the
opposite extreme-a discomfort that ex-
presses itself in constant complaining
and faultfinding; that spends its ener-
gies in murmuring against the difficult
ties and hardshtps Of situation with
out embracing the opportunities at
hand to relieve or remove them; that
is ever clamoring to be advanced to po-
sittons of greater trust and responsible
ty when evidence has not been given
either Of the disposition or the ability
to cope with those Of less import; that
seeks to occupy new fields for cultiva-
ton when those already possessed are
fallow and unimproved.
It was Henry Ward Beecher who
said: "a man improves himself fit
to go up higher who shows that he is
faithful where he is. A man that will
not do well in his present place because
he longs to be higher is fit to be neither
where he is or yet above; he is already
too high, and should be put lower"
That class is large one that needs
to learn this lesson. The world is full
Of grumblers and hypercritics-men
who possess lofty views Of their
prospective accomplishments which
they have done nothing to Justify,
while on the other hand they are filled
with envy by the steady advance Of
their fellows, who by dint of patient
industry and courageous fidelity have
met and mastered the difficulties of
each situation and have reaped the re-
ward.
1t may be that the display of energy
and fidelity is sometimes slow of appre-
citation, but in the end it Is almost
sure Of recognition. Even when it is
not openly acknowledged there is the
inner consciousness Of having done our
best, which is, after ALL the highest
personal reward, and itself gives happi-
ness.
Finally, we live noblest when we
work best, and we work best when we
are content with such things as we
have.
Happiness and contentment are cor
relative terms, and it will hardly be
questioned that happiness in any stu
alton enables us not only to do the
most in it, but to get the most out of it.
This Is no fanciful idealism. 1t is true.
practically true. Observation and ex-
perience prove it. The men who have
risen from low estate to places of
trust and great responsibility are the
men who have been content to do their
utmost in every position they were
called upon to fill. And this is just
the lesson intended to be taught.
Such a spirit of contentment is not
only a Christian view, as illustrated by
the life of the great apostle. but is