The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-07-22
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FOR A
/ SUNDAY Dalf- -Duur'
Theme:
SMALL THINGS.

SMALL THINGS.
BY REV. DR.. ABRAM S. isAAcs.
Text-For who hath despised the
day Of small things s7-zech., w., 10.
r r r
The real things that tend to make
or mar our career are often the small
things. The vital issues of defeat or
victory may spring from the veriest
trifes. The most fatal defects or
weaknesses, too, can be apparently in
significant, escaping observation like
the tiny worm which pieroes the
docks massive foundation or cuts
through the ships side.
The prophet does not always speak
in rapt visions or restrict his message
to a heavenly Jerusalem. His domi-
nant motive is to arouse to a sense
of each days Importance and to CON
duct as the essential factor in religion.
And as the minutes control the hours
and mere fractions of time the months
and years, so our character is the re-
sultant of single acts and thoughts,
which become in their turn irresisti-
BILE habits and impulses, like the sepa-
rate delicate threads which can be
welded into an unyielding chain.
The painters canvas gIows with life
and beauty by his deft use of bits OF
| pigment-small fragments of color
that give rise to figure and landscape
of SURPRISING charm. So the gentle
traits, the modest qualities, the quiet
tastes, the unobstrusive deeds, the un-
selfish attitude, the little attentions
1t is just these small things which
render our life fragrant, giving genu-
ineness and character to our religion
But there is another view of the
text We are judged less by the trend
of our life in its vastness and sweep,
by the aim and extent Of our purposes
and ambitions, than by the little acts
that make up each days passing re-
cord-the chance word we utter, the
fash of anger, the burst of petulance,
| the whisper Of wrong, the bitter taunt,
the petty gratification-acts trifling
and transient in themselves, but ex-
pressive Of character to the casual OBJ
server. How important, then. to be
on our guard lest such small things
acquire the mastery over me- They
must not be despised, for they may
lead to traits and tendencies that may
overwhelm our lives, leaving wreck
age where once were smiling streams
and happy homes.
The sage who knew the stars better
than the roads of his native town, the
philosopher so intent on the secrets
of the skies that he fell into a ditch
by the wayside-are not these but in
stances when in the vain grasp after
the tllimitable and vague we despise
the small things that are real and
near? So we narrow too generally our
conception of religion to the atmos-
phere Of church and synagogue, to
swelling music, to stately ceremonial
to solemn htanies and holy vestments.
But even these may fail in their pur'
pose If we realize not the sacredness
of small things which we ignore or
despise-the deed that uplifts, al
though 1t is unheralded; the word that
inspires, although uttered so gently
that your neighboTs do not hear it;
the hand clasp which puts your broth
er firmly on his feet without public
applause.
The small things, then, which are
usually vital and decisive for success
or failure are not in the far heavens
or across the distant seas. They are
close to us, so close that they are in
dispensable for our growth, our disci
pline, our perfect development. Hence
they dare not be despised by those o
us who wish to rise to higher things