THE NEW

GETTYSBURG TIMES - Apr 12, 1926

THE NEW
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

RICHARD JEFFERIES in his book “The Story of my Heart,” says many beautiful things. Here is one: “The world would be the gainer if a Nile flood of new thought arose and swept away the past, concentrating the effort of all the races of the earth upon man's body, that it might reach an ideal of shape, and health, and happiness.”

We all live too deeply in traditions, old fancies and conventionalities.

A strong and able body gives forth fine thoughts through its brain, in the same way that a strong and well nourished stalk gives forth a beautiful flower.

And a healthy mind doesn't see decay and disease. It sees youth, freshness, unnumbered years in embryo, full of possible vitality, vibrant life and a happy soul-life budding far ahead in hidden years.

There is a fascination to the new. That is why we should all the time be searching for the new—trying it out, testing it, proving what is good, and holding to it, making it a part of what we leave to others.

A new thought should always prove an event to a man.

The past should stand out only as a picture, something to think over and profit from. Its influence upon human thought should be only as a piece of coloring to guide us in producing a greater picture, a finer work of art in human doing.

It takes courage to attempt the new. But then, what is life without the use of courage?

THE POWER OF THE MIND

Gettysburg Times - Apr 8, 1926

THE POWER OF THE MIND
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

The wisest man now living will never know but a portion of the mystery of the mind.

What a vital organ it is! Life is a blank without its perfect health. How it shapes all the ways and means of human activity.

There seems to be no limit to what the mind may achieve. What a spectacle when a strong man stands forth with a great idea or an unusual purpose and asserts the power of his mind. Who can withstand a determined mind that is working for a good beyond the little aims of self?

Hearsay, an article in a paper, or simply something merely imagined, may color and cloud the mind so that it affects the entire working of the body machine. It is possible for the man with little faith to pound away at the man of great faith until his faith is undermined.

How far a little kindness or encouragement goes!

There is nothing more cruel than to pour fresh discouragement upon the one already discouraged.

I have a friend who could not sleep all night because of something heard during the evening that savored of bad news. Later there were those who disabled the mind of my friend, encouraged him and proved to him that what he had heard was without foundation.

But the damage had been done.

If you cannot make your friend happy by what you have to say, say nothing. He power of the mind to bring beauty, strength, ambition, and a chance of heart to another, is one of its greatest blessings of the Creator.

Cheerful thoughts, dreamings, and noble desires make the mind more powerful. This mind is the greatest weapon we have for the guarding of our happiness.

Be careful what you say to others. It is possible for you to guide many life by the strength of your faith and the courage of your convictions, and to uphold a faltering spirit that has been poisoned by the whisperings of some stampeded person.

Always stand your ground and remember that there is no proof that the other fellow has a more powerful mind than you have. Nothing is powerful that doesn't get that way through use.

THE PRAYER OF ONE DISTURBED

Gettysburg Times - Apr 6, 1926

THE PRAYER OF ONE DISTURBED
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

Like the leader in a frightened flock, with the clouds gathering fast and the day darkening, and the win growing furious— that is the way I feel, God, and so I have rushed to You who are able and full of understanding.

Gather me to You in Your strong arms, God. Nobody is around—just You and Your frail creation. I am so disturbed. This impulsive makeup has overstepped itself. In its anxiety to climb just a little higher, do a little more good, find a little more beauty, it ran too fast—and so now it's all mixed up—frightened like the troubled sheep.

But, like the Shepherd of the sheep, whose soul is always stronger than the instinct of the dumb which He tends, please, God, pay attention to me!

Soothe with Your understanding warm, with Your sympathy, lift up with Your love. You see, God, I really need you more than I even knew myself.

For the frightened never quite realize their danger. If they did, they might be braver. But, being confused, and much lost to themselves, they flounder, and then have to run to someone who is strong enough to bring them back to themselves—and place them upon higher ground. Don't You see, God? And don't You see that this pleader is the one who needs so greatly?

Press me just a trifle tighter to Your heart, God. Let me feel the impulse of Your superior spirit. Quiet this throbbing pulse and give sleep to these restless nerves.

Be a mother to me, during this darkened spell, God. I need to be mothered. After that I can go back into the world and be a man. Strong—and unafraid.

But right now, I am a boy, with all the confusion of conflicting doubts and beliefs, full of ache, hungry in heart, ignorant in spirit.

Please, God, take care of this flounderer of Yours!

KNOCKERS

Gettysburg Times - Apr 3, 1926

KNOCKERS

By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

Nobody has ever been able to improve upon nature. Yet there isn't a day that comes upon the weather or some phase of natural life.

What a world this would have been had everybody had their say first as to how it should have been built!

Knockers. No matter how good you build there is bound to be someone who will try to make you believe that you have done a bad job. Especially so if you have done an extraordinarily good job.

I read in my newspaper today an article by Barron G. Collier, who stated that competition never attacked a failure. Only a foolish find fault with the dead.

It takes a very strong man to attract enemies. The namby-pambies are merely pushed aside as a janitor would sweep up so much rubbish. Even the good fisherman doesn't like his fish to bite easily. He wants a scrap—a fight—a contest.

But these knockers. Are they successful? Have they friends? Have they risked, have they built, have they sacrificed anything? Whoever heard of a successful knocker?

Jesus said that the poor would always be with us. Not that He wanted poor people in the world of those who were unfortunate, but that He recognized a fact and knew, human nature.

How much simpler if we would take that attitude about the knockers and just let them slide along and go their weary way.

Knockers are a little like mosquitoes. They are also pesky and bothersome. But you can either pay no attention to them, of else go into the house—or somewhere.

JESUS, MY FRIEND

Gettysburg Times - Apr 1, 1926

JESUS, MY FRIEND

By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

I spent last night reading the book that my friend Bruce Barton wrote a little while ago which he called “The Man Nobody Knows.”

I liked this book because he brought Jesus into my room and I was very happy with Him. I felt that this Jesus knew and understood my problems and that He didn't drop in to find fault with my many faults.

I felt it like Zacchaeus must have felt when he heard that Jesus was to pass through his town, and because he was so small in stature, he climbed a tree and waited till the famous man came along. And when He did come along, He looked up into the tree and said something in the spirit of these words: “What are you doing up there, Zacchaeus? Come on down. I have heard a great deal about you and I want to take dinner with you at your house tonight.”

How thrilled this business man must have been. You see the thing that made him get up into that tree was that he believed that there was something very great about Jesus and he was determined to find out what it was.

Immediately the folks about Jesus ran up to Him and whispered to Him that that fellow was not the kind for Him to see or to talk to and that it would hurt His reputation to go to his house. But Jesus went.

That's why I have always liked Jesus. I am sure that, had I lived when he did, I would have wanted to see Him and talk with Him. And I know that He would have been glad to see me. I wouldn't have been embarrassed in talking to Him either, I am sure.

Bruce Barton and I have often talked about this Jesus over a luncheon table. I can't understand why He isn't talked about more. A character so sweet, so strong, so magnetic, so real and human. I wish more people would write books about Jesus as Bruce Barton has. All of our problems, personal, national and worldwide, would be better solved if we knew Jesus better and loved Him more.

The most puzzling problem clears itself, standardized by the love, common sense and vision of this Jesus, whom nearly everybody has heard about, but whom so few really know.

BE SUPERIOR TO RESENTMENT

Gettysburg Times - Mar 27, 1926

BE SUPERIOR TO RESENTMENT
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

The ways of a strong man are very difficult to fathom. That's why he is big.

It's the little dog that barks and snaps and irritates. The big man smiles under the lash of criticism, insult and calumny. He sees far below the surface of things. His dealings are with and for the big stakes—with the good of the largest number, perhaps of nations, in view.

So that when a simple, great man dies, it is long afterward that the world wakes up to his value and appreciates his worth.

He who understands does not resent. Resentment is the play of little minds.

Before the insults of Pilate, Jesus said not a word, so that all Pilates could say for argument or explanation was this: "Behold the man!"

Instead of showing resentment at an imagined wrong, or even if it is a real one, try the procedure of not minding and go on about your work. Immediately you will have risen in stature an noble bearing.

When you are tempted to hurt another just remember this—there are hurts enough in the world already.

Resentment always harms. It leaves a scar. It cools the heart and puts a premium upon the royalty of friendship which shoud always be a thing of sweetness and freedom.

We pay for our losses as well as for our gains. But when we gain in respect and confidence from our gifts to others, we leave no regrets behind.

Be superior to resentment.

ON LETTING PEOPLE IN

Gettysburg Times - March 26, 1926

ON LETTING PEOPLE IN

By George Matthew Adams

I often regret that I have to be introduced to everyone I am expected to talk to or to try to convert into a friend.

It is too bad that we can't intermingle as a family and not as separate identities fearful of one another.

If nations knew and understood one another, they would never be so foolis as to try to wreck this fine relationship through war and murder.

Yet the fact remains that we let people into our hearts and lives rather reluctantly. We are afraid they will take something we might leave around unlocked.

But the very fact of our aloofness adds suspicion and encourages that lack of trust and warmth we so much crave on all sides of our social life.

There are more good people than bad in this world. And the bad are often better than the good!

Jesus took as His companions many whom He mistrusted. He knew people. Buthe loved all people. Sooner or later He knew that the world would catch up to His ideals and make them everyday affairs for practical purposes.

You never know when you may turn the current of another's life to ward the mountains where big things are bred and are born.

Use care in letting people into your heart, your business, your home and your confidece—but if, when once entered, they betray you, then let it be said and felt as well that something rich and fine left you with their betrayal.

You can't punish other people. They always punish themselves.

Be as human as you know you can never be inhuman.