V.sabond Editorials

By Jack Dionne

fn a few more days we shall again celebrate the birthday of a certain simple Carpenter who walked and worked, lived and love4 preached and prayed on the green hills of Galilee'

* 'r. *

Just a simple country Carpenter, but One whose words were lighted by a fife eternal; and whose works matched His words. He was truly one person who practiced atl He preached. *{.{.

Only once do we find Him saying-"1 will give you an example"-and that was when he was doing the work of a servant, for truly FIe came "not to be ministered unto, but to minister." **r<

I remember in this column just a year ago today I suggested to my readers to take off their blinkers and get acquainted with this remarkable Carpenter, just as a Christmas present to themselves. For you will find Him to be quite a fellow; not the "man of sorrows," but the laughingest, happiest, most attractive, most astounding "personality" that ever walked this earth.

An indescribably ,"*"Jo"Jr" l"tto*, and surely a most thoroughly mis-read, mis-understood, mis-quoted, mis-described one. When Bruce Barton calls Him in his fine book on the Carpenfsl-"Jhs Man Nobody Knows"-he gives a perfect description. ***

If f were to search the words of the Carpenter today for the finest Christmas text I know of, unquestionably I would turn to Verse 13, Chapter 15, of the Book of John and quote those matchless and deathless words: "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.''

Many men with ,rr" pri""rlrrio. o, words have turned their pens to the depicting of the sacrament of Friendship; but all other words fall into unseen background in comparison with this inspired declaration of the Carpenter. Many of His most inspiring declarations are to be found in two or more of the Gospels. But only John, the writer who spoke little of parables but seemed to concentrate particularly on quoting beautiful words and phrases of the Master, gives us this priceless thing.

For we who have passed the crest of the hill of life, and find ourselves on that side of the ridge where the shadows are ever pointing toward the West, come to appraise the sacrament of Friendship at a far higher rate than during the earlier years of life. As our hairs become thinner, or grayer at the temples, and as the measuring stick of life's values change in our hands, our friends and our friendships become dearer to us.

This development is accelerated and accentuated by the inexorable application of that great Law of Average which steps in at all-too-frequent intervals and strikes down one after another of those friends we hold dear. Every Christmas finds our list of friends smaller than the previous year. One by one they drop from that circle our hearts hold dear. And, as each one drops, we turn with intuitively increased affection to that lessened number which remains. ***

During the earlier years, life is a mystery, death is a faroff thing, friendships are not imbedded so rock-ribbed in the inner recesses of the heart and soul, and the loss of a friend is a wound soon healed over. But during the later years of life when human values have become so vastly different, the loss of a friend creates a void that is never filled.

What better thought ;J; entertain at this Christmas season than one of rejoicing and thanking God for friends and for friendship? Rejoicing for those who have gone before-who since last Christmas have answered that solemn roll-call-and for those who still remain to cheer and bless us. For those who have gone, let us rejoice that they WERE here, that we knew and loved them and enjoyed the blessing of their friendship; and for those that are still here, why not plan to see them oftener, to serve them better, and derive the biggest.possible return from now on from communion with them? ***

What is friendship? To me it means understanding, loyalty, and helpfulness. Friendship is not a passive thingor should not be. It should be an active, sleepless intent and purpose to do something for that other fellow. I know men-have been blessed by the trust of men-who absolutely amaze me by their high concept of the dutles and responsibilities of a friend. A friend, to such men as I men- tion, is one whom you keep ever in your thoughts and seek continually for some opportunity to serve and help and boqst and assist in any possible way.

The man who has that concept of friendship, never lacks friends. How could he? I know of no better method of keeping that boy inside of you alive, than by working at your friendships. For that boy in you-that boy in every man-is essentially a friendly, happy fellow. And, when you keep your friendships alive and active, you keep him alive.

**:F

Talk about an ideal Christmas and New Year pledgehere's one for all of us: "I PLEDGE MYSELF FOR THE NEXT YEAR TO BE A BETTER FRIEND TO ALL MY FRIENDS THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN BEFORE " Take your friendships seriously. Put them to work. Be a useful, helpful, understanding, loyal friendbut above all else, be an ACTIVE friend, and keep your friendships well practiced up.

Friendliness, tolerance, fellowship, interest in others, -a determination to be joyful and keep those you contact cheered up-these are the things that keep that boy in you alive and h"ppy; and the finest of these is friendship.

I've always liked the words of an old man I used to know who seemed to make it his eternal business everywhere he went to do something for someone, keep others cheered up, and make other people happy. Someone said to him one day-"What return do you get for all that you do for others?" And, he answered grinningly-"I'm just working for a big funeral." t**

Just clip this little rhyme-the authorship of which I have no idea-and paste it where you can look at it many times a day as you work:

I'd rather have it said of me

When this old journey's through, That on my way I tried to be A friend to all I knew,

Than have it said I gathered gold, And then have voices fall

Because they knew when that was said That they had said it all:

I'd gladly pass along my way

When my time comes to die

If everybody said of me ffe was a friendly guy.