A DAILY MESSAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1928, Page 1

A DAILY MESSAGE

“ MISFITS ”

‘'Hhutks lind out where their talents lie ;

A hear will not attempt to Jly, A foundered horse will oft dehate Before he tries a iive-harred gate. A dog hv instinct turns aside Who sees the ditch too deep and wide. But man we find the only creature Who, led bv bis folly, combats Nature, And where his genius least inclines, Absurdly bends his whole designs.” —Swift.

More intelligent than horse or dog, man frequently shows less intelligence than they, in persistently working along the lines of his weakness instead of his strength. “ 1 do not forbid you to preach,” said his bishop to a young clergyman, ‘‘hut Nature does.” The young cleric persisted. lie preached, hut failed, lie blamed “Fate;” lie should have blamed " Folly.” He was a misfit. His purpose was mil in harmony with his powers ; therefore his powers could not be in harmony with liis purpose. Flow could he succeed ?

While nothing will take the (Pace o! an all-absorbing purpose as a goalreacher, that purpose must 'follow the line of destiny, which is that ol ability and character, even though it he an all-absorbing purpose, it w ill be as useless as a boat on laud. Lowell says. “ No man is born into the world unless his work is born wii.li him,” and yet how many iail to hud their work! .llow many misfits are there in your acquaintance and mine!

Success can come only to those whose purpose is in harmony with their powers, and whose powers are in harmony with their purpose. Do you think that Turner, the great nature-painter, whose genius placed on canvas some ol the most glorious masterpieces ol art, would have made a good barber? Yet such Ids parents intended him to lie. lie would ha\e dreamed Ins dreams while disfiguring his patrons’ shingle, lor at best be would have been a bad barber, since lie would lane been perpetually struggling along the lines ol his weakness, not ol his stlength. Just as the aeroplane is strong in the air ami weak everywhere else, the steamer strong on the water and weak everywhere else, the locomotive strong on tlio track and weak everywhere else, so man is strong and capable ol reaching any goal when bis purpose is along the line of his strength, and not of his weakness-—when his purpose is in harmony with Ins powers. _M PRESTON STANLEY.