Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-08-18
THE OF LIFE.

THE GUIDANCE OF LIFE.
BY Rev. ". L. EatkInSon.
TeXt.-'And Elisha said unto them,
This is not the way, neither is this the
city: follow me, and | will bring you
TO the man whom ye seek. But he led
them Il Samaria."-II Kings 6:19.
The King of Syria had sent his
bands into Israel, and Elisha prayed
that illusion and blindness might hap
pen to them there. The prophet went
boldly into their midst, as Alfred went
into the camp of the Danes, and to
the confused men he said, This is not
the place, and this is not the CITY, lie
misdirected them, and led them to-
Samaria, exactly the place where they
did not wish to be. Elisha did all this
with Il generous purpose, and his ac-
ton stands redeemed by the magma
nimity that he cherished. But isn't II
a picture of much of that misleading
and misdirectiOn that is perpetually
Detailing us in life? | don't put 1t any
further thar that, but it stands there
as a picturesque representation OF the
misconception and misdirection of hui
man life.
Mistaken routes! This Is not the
way, and this is not the city, Isn't
it true Of thousands of men that they
are under an illusion on that point?
You know there must be the II path
for a man. We are all shut up to that
conclusion. There must be one path
for Il man through this world that Is
better than any other, a path that suits
him better, in which he realizes his
personality, and in which he will rem
der the best service to the community.
There must be one path that Is best.
But is anything more clear than the
fact that a great number Of men in
this world have never got into that
path, and live without purpose? Isn't
it true of multitudes of lives that they
are altogether misdirected, aimless,
purposeless?
Look at all nature to-day! 1t is a
wonderful assistance to us. Look al
inanimate nature! Look at the great
beautiful world! How is it that this
world Is such a vision of order and
loneliness? oh, you say, 1t is because
every atom has its place, has its task,
and the world at large is so magnifi-
cent, so superb, so musical, because
the individual atoms on which it is
built are properly adjusted and rightly
ordered. The magniicence of the
whole is the consequence of a just dis
us, and so there can be no doubt of it,
that every atom has its characteristics,
its place, its service, and the grandeur
of the world is the result of the well
ordered atom.
In all things seek guidance. AS to
your vocation. Every man comes on
this planet with some particular work.
Some men are born musicians, some
born merchants, some born orators,
some born mariners, some born preach
ers, and some not, as you know very
well. Each one of us has been fitted
for a particular work. Now, is there
anything more melancholy than the
way in which people don't seem to
find their vocation? THE square peg
in the round hole, the round peg in
the square hole'-what is that but a
picturesque way of saying that many
men and women have for II reason
or another never found their vocation,
and set their hand to tasks which ma
ture forbids they shall excel in. Go
TO God, who gave your singular fac
ulties, and ask Him to give you your
place, and | dare believe that He will
not leave any Of us to stumble through
life with a mistaken vocation, and an
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