The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-06-26
An Aim in Life

A WRITER once said, IAN aim in
IN life Is the only fortune worth
4 - the finding; and 1t is not to be
found In foreign lands, but in the
heart ITSELF" The trend of education
lies more and more toward establish
ing "in the heart itself" higher aims
and motives for living. 1t Is to the
advantage of society that wrongdoers
are being taught repentance and ref
ormation, and are In many cases be-
ing given extended opportunities to
develop their talents and usefulness.
Education that promotes temperance,
honesty, gentleness. reciprocity, is an
asset, for as higher, holier aims are
firmly planted and unfolded within
the heart of each world citizen, SO
will community, national, and inter-
national relations be measurably i'm
proved. Righteous aims are to be
esteemed above money and jewels,
for the fortunes they bring are indie
structible and of inestimable worth.
Certain Bible characters had aims
in life, holy and commendable. Who,
after reading of Daniels spiritual in
sight and ability to subdue lions, has
not felt a greater desire to know
Daniels God, who "delivereth and
rescueth"? Daniel did not claim to
be unique. He explained his rescue
on the basis of innocency before God
and his harmlessness before Darius,
upon to interpret the dream of king
Nebuchadnezzar, he said Daniel
2:30), "This secret Is not revealed to
me for any wisdom that have more
than any living" Who that has
studied the life of Moses, his meek
ness, courage, spirituality, has not
experienced keener incentive to live
according to Gods plan? And surely
those who read the words and works
of the master Christian long to go
and do likewise, even though they do
not fully perceive the spiritual i'm
port of the message. To attain moral
excellence is a worthy aim for any
one.
In "Science and Health with Key
to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy
has given the world this viewpoint:
zones aim, a point beyond faith,
should be to find the footsteps of
Truth, the way to health and holt
ness" And few pages farther on
she tells how this may be accom-
plished: "Mortals must gravitate
Godward, their affections and aims
grow spiritual, -they must near the
broader interpretations of being, and
gain some proper sense of the inf
ite,-in order that sin and mortality
may be put off" Opp. 241, 1861. E.
Jesus urged all to love God su-
premely and to regard their neigh
Dor with loving-kindness. 1t is quite
true that If we did this, there would
be no temptation to break the Ten
Commandments; that is, we should
live purely and honestly, resisting
with success temptations to kill,
steal, bear false witness, covet, or
commit adultery. We should honor
the Father-Mother God, and keep
every day holy unto Him.
Aspirations and motives to live
rightly are natural and normal to
children who have been correctly
taught. Often child is 80 cognizant
of love and goodness as to be pro-
tected from harm. He is often so
conscious of expressing loving-kind-
ness that he is totally unaware of an
others evil thoughts. Parents may
early establish in their children an
aim in life that incorporates fellow
ship, generosity, industry, thought
fulness, and is expressed in daily oc-
cupation.
More mature students, also, may
guard and guide their thinking in ac-
cordance with Truth and Love. One
who welcomes and appropriates even
faint desires for better living, cher
fishes them secretly in bis heart and
strives openly to practice them, finds
his life becoming productive, pro-
gressive. Conservation to Truth is
character builder, promoting the well
fare of the individual and thus ele-
waiting world conditions. Evil
thoughts and aims, like the house
built on the sand, fall eventually,
even If for time they seem clamor-
Gus and insistent. The Bible gives
us firm foundations for our individ-
ual building. The Christian