VENTURE AND HAVE

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1928, Page 4

VENTURE AND HAVE

Many have failed laineixta hly in spite of their whole-hearted efforts to win success. Wiiy r Because tliey were making elforts to do something for which they were by .Nature ilisqtialilied. It is not enough to work hard, to concentrate all your energies upon some task, to live for that task alone. The task must he one that is within your powers, ft must he one that calls forth your special aptitudes. Kreryone has some special aptitude. “The weakest among us." Raskin said, "hue a edit, however seemingly trivial. which is peculiar to him and which, worthily used, will he a gift also to his race for ever.” We cannot "worthily use” our gifts unless we apply them to the right endeavours. Sir Walter Scott could never have done for the world, if he lnul remained a lawyer only, wlmt he did by writing novels. Abraham Lincoln might have gone on pleading in small Courts all his life without winning the great name which lie began to win as soon as he took up politics. Knch would have done his best. Each would have succeeded up to a point. Hut their best talents would have remained sheathed. They would have incurred the JjJame which fell upon the ‘‘unprofitable servant” in the parable. If we aren't making headway, the fault is either in ourselves or in our jobs. Should the hitter he insuited to us. we ought to try a change. "It takes some pluck?” Yes, it takes pluck to get the best out of life. Nothing venture. nothing have I