Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-11
Importance
of Being
Born Again
BY CHARLES e. HEN WOOD.

Does there at times come over you
a realization Of the utter futility OF your
life. with the hum-drum and common
place grimly clouding the brightness and
Joy you expected to yield?
You feel the tug OF duty here, and the
lure of pleasure there: and the endless
conflict between those things you want
to do. and those you have to do. And
as you devote what you consider your
best energies to the great task OF bust
ness, achieving a fair success, OF a very
indifferent one. or say a very great sue
cess in making money, don't you ever
sort OF shiver at the unreality of 1t all.
a feeling of what, after ALL is the use7"
You know how the days COUP in the
morning with frown at the clock. A
hurried start: breakfast hurried: dabs
at conversation glance at the papers,
and hurried exit to business, the
crowded car, and then at work
The cares. problems and responsible.
ties there are often real enough, so
that only a man indeed can get through
the day with honesty. Justice and kind
iiness--while doing n genuine days work.
Our seniors try us, our juniors try us
more. The work may not be so hard.
but It leaves us fatigued and worn when
quitting time comes. The balance sheet
or the pay envelope don't quite measure
up to expectations.
And we mutter at business conditions
or at the employer, or at lust my luck
This. at any rate. is the experience OF
many while alongside Of them. at break
fast perchance (some wtfes are happy,
~ Ina oh
or office. 1t may be senior there. or
Junior. a customer OF friend. will APP
pear one. who is doing what needs to
be done in a spirit Of Joy and satisfaction,
with the eager zest of healthy child
at play.
Just what is II that makes this startling
difference in people-that divides them
sharply into two classes. one tired the
other eager; one fatigued. the other
buoyant; one who always leans. and the
other who always lifts?
Well. the biologists tell us-and they
know more about the human animal than
anyone else--that happiness is a product
OF rational exercise Of function.
Emerson expressed the same thought.
but with more Of human interest, when
he said. "A man is relieved and gay when
he has put his heart into his work and
done his best
1t is easy to note the two factions
those who taste of life and find It good,
to whom every common bush is afire
with God" who. whatsoever their years.
have a youthful spirit.
In the other faction are the dismal, dis
gruntled. who do their duty perhaps. but
not gladly; and who miss absolutely the
! low OF doing aonaefhinR well
! To determine what makes happiness Is
not difficult The secret has been out
a long while. II is only a platitude to
say that II does not lie in wealth. fame,
knowledge, power. or any possession.
Its cause and abiding place are within
you. and may be shared alike by a mil
iionaire or day laborer. in perfect
equality.
How to experience Il? Easily done.
Change your mental attitude, and. for a
start. take your days work and do IL
eagerly.
Note that in that potentially wonderful
brain OF yours the product OF untold ages
OF evolution. countless brain cells but
await your imperious will to live. Re-
member Kipling's words, Whatever you
may have thought or said or done. moth
ing, for you, is irrevocable."
Then, joint the faction OF eternal youth,
and you viii want with q youths fierce
desire, not wealth alone, nor fame. MOI
knowledge, nor power, but you will want
TO do; and in proportion to the value to
mankind OF that which you do. ''ail those
things will be added unto you" as by
products OF the 10y OF doing.
Not for nothing was II said You must
be born again"
And you can. Try a.!