Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-29
"LIFE A PERSONALLY
CONDUCTED JOURNEY


choosing a profession without reference
to Gods will is the morbid and preten-
tious talk of some young people about
getting ready for their life work" This
sort of talk sounds like the chatter OF
one who has arranged a journey and IS
undertaking to pack up his baggage ana
arrange the details of the trip for per-
sonal comfort and pleasure. The life
work of any man who leads Christian
life is that to which God points him,
and there is no way to prepare Tor 1t eX-
cept to do the will of God day by day.
On one occasion a young man wrote to
Thomas Carlyle asking advice as to how
to prepare for his life work. In reply
that rugged old philosopher said, do
the duty that lies next to you. and that
being done, the next duty will have ap-'
peared." This is but another way of
saying wait on the direction of God
from day to day, and one will certainly
get into his life work wisely and get out
of it we'll.
1t is not possible that human wisdom
should be sufficient to plan a human
life. Men have no foresight adequate
for such planning. The contingencies
of sickness and health, adversely and
prosperity, defeat and triumph, are too
numerous and too uncomfortable for
such far-reaching planning of the lin
lted 1aculCleS or men.
For the safe conduct OF life human
beings need an omniscient and omnipo-
tent guide. Hence IT was a gracious
| and blessed thing when Jesus promised
| to give to his followers "the light of
life" in Himself. Life thus personally
conducted will walk in plain ways and
safe paths.
A supreme difficulty confronts every
man on entering life in the fact that he
I hos 4.
entering upon a road over which no
other man ever passed before Him; for
each life goes along a way never trod
by any other human being. Speaking to
this point, Nathaniel Hawthorne SAYS:
| I'VE have no experiences of our own
nor can We use the experience of any
other human being until it is too late"
The Hebrew Psalmist felt this truth
when he said, II am a stranger in the
earth; hide not thy commandments from
me- Being stranger and a newcomer
| on the planet he did not feel that he
was equal to his own guidance, but
| needed the direction of the divine COM
mandments and the assistance of divine
leadership.
Such is the case with every one. We
| all come through the world but once,
and we cannot AFFORD to take risks in
the way that we go. Yet we take the
most fearful risks when we assume to
| direct our own lives or to mimic the
| life of any other human being. The
| position of each of us is peculiar, and.
| hence, We require personal direction
| that we may not miss the divine pur-
| pose in our lives nor mar Gods plan for
| US.
Serious men in all lands and of all
classes feel this need of a personal
| Guide through life. There is a hymn
| which has found re- in,
hymnals of all the churches. although
1t was written by one toward whom
| most men in the English speaking world
| felt during his life a certain antago-
nism. 1t is the hymn of John Henry
| Newman. written at Palermo when all
the plans of his life seemed to have
i gone awry, and when insuperable OBJ
stacles withstood him in every direc-
| ton. Because the lines he wrote an
swer to the need of the human heart
| universally, his hymn is sung in all
the churches of Christendom. Where
/ is the pious soul who does not respond
| to these tender lines?
LEAD. kindly Light. amid tn encircIing
gloom.
! Lead thou me on!
I The night is dark, and I am far from
home;
Keep thou my feet; do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for
me.
81 was not ever thus nor prayed that
4 thou
| Shoudst lead me on;
| loved to choose and see my path; but
/ now
1 Laed thou ME on,
j loved the garish day. and, spite Of
II fears,
Pride ruled by will. Remember not
i past years.
$50 long thy power hath blest me. sure
Il il still
Will lead me on
| Ger moor and fen, DER crag and tor
/ rent, till
The night is gone,
| And with the morn those angel faces
i smile,
Which have loved long since and lost
awhile,"