Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-09
Sunday Morning Talk
Momentous Today.

Oyer eunhasis of the past or future and
under emphasis of the present are together
responsible for much Of the discomfort ana
waste of life If we could release for use
today the nervous energy that Is employed
in sentimental or regretful backward looks
or in apprehensive anticipations, we should
not only multiply and intensity our actlV-
tiles, but should be able to carry them
on with far greater repose of spirit than
we now possess. OF course, the faculty or
memory is a blessed boon and when rightly
exercised yields both pleasure and profit
But it was never designed by our Creator
to impoverish our present. 1t may become
a haunting influence if we look back only
to mourn over our mistakes and sins, or
to recall what we now consider happier
and easier days. Not otherwise is 1t with
the faculty of anticipation. Life would be
walled around, indeed, if we could not let
the foretaste of some expected JOY sWeeten
today's monotony and toll. But ever to
be dreaming about what is coming by and
by deadens one to the satsfactions and OPP
portunities Of the moment The ideal life
is that in which past, present ana future
are linked together, each contributing Its
measure of inspiration to tasks and OF
consolation to sorrow; but with the present
always recognized as the most real, vital
and consequential
For when we come to analyZe the matter
in those far-away days of childhood as we
now think were. On the other mana,
maybe in coming years we snail look PACK
upon these present moments as holdlng Ior
us lows that we hardly realize now. It's
curious how the passing of time changes
our viewpoint. A bright young man told
me the other day that he used to consider
the hour on Sunday afternoon when ne
was instructed in the catechiSm and taught
Scripture and sacred hymns, bore; but
now he looks back upon 1t as one of the
af in hnr frnn
which he is separated by thousand miles.
Mothers are sometimes eager to hurry their
babies along through the perils of infancy
and the helplessness of early childhood:
but when they are out of their arms and
striding rapidly toward manhood and wom-
anhood, many a woman regrets that she
did not enjoy her babies as she might have
done.
So it is true in the deepest sense that
Now is the accepted time; today is the
day of salvation" The past will never
come back and the future has not arrived; ;
but we have our one chance now. We have
no guarantee that the skies will ever be
bluer for US than they are today; or the
breezes more refreshing. or the flowers
gayer; or the prattle and laughter of little
children any more delightful; or the world.
as we find it, any better; or duty any more
commanding; or God any nearer. Today
we have all the chance we need Today
sources of comfort and inspiration are ac-
cessible to us. Today, not next week. we
can If we will begin to be true, high-mind-
ed men and women. Oh, that we might
realize how momentous Is every day as
it passes without regard TO It's predecessor
or successorl How fraught with possibll1-
ties and potentialitieS; how well worth
while in what it yields. too valuable to
fritted away; too rich in what 1t affords
US to be disesteemed.
Once a young man brought before coun-
Gil of learned ministers with a view to de-
termining his fitness for the ministry was
asked if he e9er had any remarkable relig-