The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1949-09-22
The ---
American Way
By
DR.. NORMAN VINCENT PEALE
BY

DAs' ANO1N"1E1AN 1ANSLIN1 4 LfALL
In an Ohio town sometime ago
a group of longtime friends was
discussing well-known political
figure who was prominent in the
politics of the Buckeye state in
my boyhood days. Across the in
tervening years l clearly remem- 1
Der him. He was an enormous
man physically and was very re-
ligious. l can see him yet moving
down the aisle of the church
where he was the head usher.
There was many a story about
him. One of these l remember
distinctly. 1t had to do with a
younger man who had political
ambitions. He did not have the
gift of understanding that charac-
teriZed the older man. He was
not quite philosophical enough.
There was no kindly give and
take in his makeup. He was
bludgeoning his way, so he
thought, to the top and as re-
suit was experiencing rather stiff
opposition. He rubbed people the
wrong way, thus creating a great
many enemies. On one occasion
he was talking with the older
man and complained about these
enemies. With ill-concealed ran
cor he told the more experienced
politician what he intended to do
to these enemies, how he was 60
ing to crush them.
The older man was kindly and
tolerant and said Son, l would
not do that if were you. That
will not get you anywhere. You
do not want to make a lot of
enemies"
We'll" said the boy, 81 already
have lot of them. What can |
do about them?"
l The older man answered, 81
will give you a little suggestion
about how to handle an enemy.
| There is only one thing to do
with an enemy, only one, and
that is to make a friend of him.
You cannot afford the luxury of
even one enemy if it can be
avoided"
'But how can you turn an enc
my into friend?"
"Son, l have a little trick about
that and it works like a charm.
1t will work for you, too. Here it
is Love your enemies bless them
that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them
that despitefully use you. Then,
with a twinkle in his eye he
asked, '"Do you recognize the
source of that quotation?"
Of course, a preacher would be
expected to say that, but coming
from an astute, worldly-wise
politician, it carries considerably
more weight.
The Biblical text quoted by the
old politician is absolutely practi-
cal, Apply it in your home and
take it to. your business tomor-
row. If you apply it, keep apply
ing it, and learn more about the
use of it, you can turn your enc
mics into friends.
If, in dealing with people who
treat you badly, you do not re-
taliate in kind but try to build
up that fine something within
them for which they are blindly
reaching, you will turn them
from enemies into friends, be-
cause you are doing the finest
thing for them. In so doing you
will satisfy their craving to be
appreciated, and ultimately they
will come to love you. You have
to be somewhat of a personality
to do this, but ! am assuming that
you are such, and besides, you
have Almighty God to help you.
BLESS them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you
1t is so simple. Your enemies
are being childish, and all that
they want is your esteem and
your regard. If you give them
back curse for curse, hate for
hate, they will not like you, but
they will come to like you if you
l1~.,