Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-11-24

when u man ana u woman 10 not rigid
~ keep their evenings employed for
their own mental and spiritual develop
ment they are apt TO get into mis-
chief.
There never was a truer proverb
written than that which says. The
devil hns to seek the busy man. but the
lndolent man hunts the devil" Martin
Luther well illustrated this fact when
he said: When am assaled with
heavy fluctuations | rush out among
my pigs rather than remain alone by
m!self The human heart Is like a
milestone In mill when you put
wheat under II, II turns and bruises the
wheat TO -four II you put no wheat in
IT, it still grinds on. but then II Is
Itself II grinds and wears away"
Luther was right You must set your
self some allotted task during the win
ter evenings. else you will get into mis-
chief You will he like the millstones
grinding themselves away. You must
have your evenings occupied with use
ful duties. else you Will drift into sin
full pleasures. There is no exception TO
the rule.
Too Tired to Read.
But" you say. what is the good Of
your talking TO me about giving my
evenings NJ to work. When | come
home from the store am SO dead tired
can hardly move What my brain
needs Is not an intellectual uplft, but
just complete rest. II | can only go
to some vaudeville performance and
have good laugh or 20 and have a
good dance. all is well. | do not want
work. but rest complete rest" Oh. no,
my friend. you are wrong The mind
and body are never properly rested
aud recreated by doing something fool
sh and mentally enervating. You are
depicting your mind and emasculating
1t. as some people spoil their children.
The little boy comes TO his mother and
says. Mamma. am hungry. Can
have cake" NO. Charlie" says his
mother. but II you wish you can have
glass Of milk and some bread" Char
lie lies down on the ground and begins
10 scream. Then the mother says. IAN
right. Charlie. 20 and get the cake.
only stop that kicking and crying" A
couple Of hours later. at dinner. Charlie
absolutely refuses To eat anything but
some pie. He says. Il am not hungry
do not wish to eat anything About
two hours later Charlie comes TO his
mother and says: Mamma. | am hun
cry. Can have some candy She
says. mo. Charlie" With that Char
lies face begins to twist and his mouth
TO open. Then, in order to stop his cry
ing the mother says: Yes. Charlie
Here is the candy. Take it and don't
cry" What is the result? Instead OF
giving that boy healthy food which
will develop bone and muscle and
snew she develops for him PERM
cious appetite. The boy gets into a
condition where he absolutely refuses
TO eat food which is healthy for him.
Thus some OF us treat our minds like
spoiled children. We say: Il am resting
my mind. | will 20 TO a cheap theater
or TO Il dance hall" No. you are not
resting IT, You are feeding II with
cakes and candy Rest of mind sim
ply comes from change of work What
you need 10 do Is to give your winter
evenings TO good reading, to good
thoughts and 10 high ideals. This
means work. but II will mean work
that will rccreate and strengthen your
energies. depleted Ly the struggles of
the day. Are we willing to pay the
price 10y which our evenings can pro
vide us with true beneficial mental
development?
True Development.
But take Il step farther and declare
that large per cent of your evenings
should be consccratel TO direct service
to Jesus Christ These should be the
sacred hours when you say, Lord.
what wilt thou have me 10 dof" not
Lord. what wilt thou have me TO do
for my own self or for my own fam
ilyf" You should say. Lord. what wilt
thou have me 10 do directly for thee"
You know that the Lord commands us
10 give a tenth of our income 10 him.
But that Is not enough We must also
give To him our time and our service.
Most of us cannot give this time and
service during the day Those hours
belong 10 our employer Man goeth
forth unto his work and 10 his labor
until the evening" But we can give
to Gods service part of our evenings.
And we must give TO him these hours
IL we are 10 do the work he wants us
TO do
but" you say. Il cannot understand
you. Is not this Inconsistent with your
advice 20 stay home with our families
Now. how can visit hospitals and 60
10 slckrooms and look after the poor
unless turn my back upon my family !
Can man be in two places at the
same time: Can farmer help neigh
Dor build his barn aud plow his own
fields on the same day! How can one
look after his own children and yet
associate with those who need help and
who are not members OF his own fami.
ly;" am glad you mentioned that.
You are just the person with whom ]
want 10 talk. You say YOU are fami.