Article March 14, 1908 Issue

CONTENTMENT AND SATISFACTION

REV. JAMES J. ROME.

There was a certain amount of philosophy in the remark of the woman who said she had hunted all her life for contentment, and had at last determined to settle down contented without it. Her discontent consisted in her belief that she was without something which she greatly desired, as well as the fear that it might never be obtained. As soon as the fretful desire and fear were given up, the cause of discontent was gone. The amount of misery existing in the world to-day from this same cause is lamentable and in vain do men seek in matter relief from the unhappiness caused by this wrong mental attitude.

That contentment is the normal and rightful state of man is evidenced by the fact that all men recognize it as such. What is it that stimulates the great effort to gain certain objects and ends in life if it be not the hope that by such means men may secure gratification and contentment? The beautiful home being built by the rich merchant means to him the fulfilment of his hopes for peace and contentment as well as plenty. He may make the too common mistake of considering the material as the substance of his hopes, and thus be doomed to disappointment until he learns that peace and contentment are conditions of mind which may be possessed as much while we are seeking to attain some particular end as after its attainment.

Is it right to be contented? If not, it must be right to be discontented. In the Epistle to the Hebrews we read, "Be content with such things as ye have," and Paul says, "Godliness with contentment is great gain:" yet we meet with this surprising statement from one who was considered a great leader in the religious world, "A contented man is a shame;" nevertheless, we cannot suppose for one moment that this great reformer would contend that Christianity fosters the thought of discontent, for we find him saying at another time, "We must not make the ideas of contentment and aspiration quarrel, for God made them fast friends. A man may aspire and yet be contented."

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