[Rev. W. E. Kloster, as quoted in the Oregonian, Portland, Oregon]

All people are in quest of happiness and contentment, and it can be found only in complete harmony with God. To-day we observe life as it is lived. We find that we predominately stress the faults of folks rather than their virtues. The daily columns are filled with news portraying the weaknesses and sins of the world, and little is said or written in recognition of honorable deeds performed. If it is true that as a man "thinketh in his heart, so is he," then our thinking should be along the lines laid down by Paul, who urged the Philippians to think of the things of truth, honesty, justice, purity, loveliness, virtue, and praise. Life's pathway will then be ever upward toward the light and away from darkness and despair.

[The Rev. Dr. Minot Simons, as quoted in the New York Times, New York]

Living together is an art. There should be a way of keeping together, mutually sympathetic and inspiring, comforting and encouraging. What a mistake to ignore the art and to be satisfied with mere existence! But even the existence of togetherness is sacrificed if the art is ignored. Appreciation is essential in the art of living together. That is one reason why a good many homes break down that ought not to break down. The starved people of the world are not simply those without food, but those who are denied the approbation, the admiration, and the appreciation which others feel for them but which is not shown. Just a little constant effort and thought would keep appreciation constantly upbuilding the home love and the home happiness. Even the pressure of trial would make the man and the woman more and more completely one. Appreciation is the foundation of justice. Being just to other people is largely a matter of insight. Dickens could see very little in this country that he cared for; Bryce saw a good deal. To Matthew Arnold we were too raw and crude; but Professor Palmer pointed out that Arnold had not appreciated the glory of the imperfect, the significance of the process of growth toward something larger and finer. It is a noble thing to take international disputes before the bar of justice, but it is a nobler thing to take them first before the bar of appreciation. The Kellogg multilateral treaties ... will give the great nations just that opportunity to find out and appreciate each other's points of view.

[From the Youth's Companion, Boston, Massachusetts]

The names of Abinadab and Malchishua have come down to us, but not many readers can instantly identify these two young men. Their brother, however, made himself so famous during a short lifetime that his name is still frequently borne by men of our country and time. All of us know something about Jonathan, whose fame depends very little upon his activities in the world, and almost wholly upon his classic friendship with David. We know nothing about Jonathan's appearence. Of David it is written that he was ruddy, and of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look upon. His amazing combat with Goliath of Gath is one of the great episodes of history; no sooner did it end than Jonathan felt that he loved David. "The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David," says the Bible. From that time forward these two young men—bound by a covenant which they swore together—protected and defended each other in many adversities. Jonathan begged his father, King Saul, not to kill David; and more than once Jonathan enabled David to escape from the unjust wrath of the king. In return, the boy whom Jonathan had befriended spared the life of King Saul when it lay in his power to slay him, and when the king's enemies overthrew him David mourned him and his son Jonathan in words that will never be forgotten. When we read this classic story of friendship we ask ourselves whether, in this day and time, such friendships are still possible. Men are said to love their homes in a way unknown to their ancestors. There is no doubt that men now love the pursuit of power and wealth more keenly than in the old days. Yet the old text stands: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." We have but to read or listen to the moving stories of gallantry and devotion displayed in the world war, to know that one of the strongest of the human emotions is that is friendship. A man, seeing his friend wounded or in danger, risks his own life without a thought. Both in war and in peace, friendship yields sure rewards. But nowhere is friendship more close or more satisfying than when it has in it a religious element. Every type of human friendship is derived from that high interpretation which bases it on the friendliness of God. In the book of Exodus we read, "And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." Religion at its best accepts the universe as friendly. "Henceforth," said the Lord Jesus, "I call you not servants;.... but I have called you friends." This describes the tenderest of human relationship to the Founder of our faith. To meet him on such a basis is not only to confirm the friendship of God but to lay an indestructible foundation for brotherhood among ourselves. A friendly God establishes firmly the foundation of human friendship at its noblest. The Christian religion raises the ideal of human friendship to its loftiest and most enduring height.

[From the Living Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin]

There is much of beautiful romance in the Bible. The story of Isaac and Rebecca; Jacob's wooing of Rachel; the love story of Ruth; and in the New Testament the picture of the Bethany home where the Master was always welcome—these are proofs of God's understanding in connection with our human affection. And now we have the thrilling story of the deep love between David and Jonathan. Secular history tells us of similar love between brothers and friends. Damon and Pythias, whose story is told by Plutarch, and many others, seem to be a proof of the germ of divine Love which, even among heathen folk, awaits only the touch of Christ's message to spring into beauty. We may well take the story of the friendship between David and Jonathan as an example for us all. "Friend" is a sacred word, and it draws us very near to God and to the Master, Christ [Jesus]. Christ [Jesus] had many friends, and his loyalty and love set us an example which we may well follow. The first characteristic of the truest friendship is love. Who does not know the comfort of "speaking with naked heart," as Longfellow expresses it, to a trusted friend? Friendships are rare indeed, and that is why so many suffer from the suppression of longings, having no friend in whom they can confide. Our human loves draw us nearer to Christ [Jesus], and make us recognize the blessedness of his friendships first, because all friends, however sincere, are limited in their power of consolation, and, second, because all ... love comes from God, and having partaken of the derived help, we seek the Foundation of all goodness and comfort. This brings us to an understanding of the friendship between David and Jonathan. They both loved God, and in the strength of that love they were drawn to each other .... True love is faithful. It endures. Much of human love does not last, especially when trouble comes. The agony of homes broken up, because selfishness has wounded love to the death, brings us one of the greatest problems of modern life. To be faithful in our friendship, regardless of cost, is a type of that which Christ [Jesus] esteemed so important. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." We need such endurance in our friendship to-day, for the old world is heavily laden with suspicion and fear. Doubt between man and man has spread to the nations and is as consuming and contagious as a canker. Our message comes in ringing fashion to us as we think of the faithfulness of these two men, and so are led to make our love for God strong and patient that it may never grow cold. Friendship demands sacrifice .... Sacrifice has always by its side a shining path of seeming prosperity. It is just there that the test comes, just there that the pain of the cross is greatest. Let us not try to evade the sacrifice which friendship demands. If we are the friends of Christ [Jesus], we must take up the cross and rejoice that our faith is big enough to make the sacrifice of ease and pleasure that our devotion may be accepted by Christ as sincere and disinterested. "The way of the cross leads home." Friendship gives pledges. Vows of fidelity between a man and his friend and between God and His children are a necessity. The parting words between David and Jonathan and their mutual pledges are holy words, because they bring us to our best friend's pledge to us and our pledge to him. The Master's pledge is, Be not afraid, for I am with thee. Our pledge is, Lord, I believe. There is always a sacredness in words of parting which in itself speaks of eternity.

Let us remember how our Lord said, "I call you not servants," but friends. Our lives on earth are made happier, in spite of, and sometimes because of, sacrifices, and our love for the blessed Master will grow deeper and stronger when we have learned to love one another, because we know that he, our friend, will love us unto the end.

[Rev. J. Whitcomb Brougher, Jr., as quoted in the Los Angeles Times, California]

Some folks think that ideals are not practical. On the other hand, ideals must be practical or they are not ideals. Christ [Jesus] was the most practical of men. His life shows that his ideals are livable. America to-day owes all that she has to her homes; and yet the home, with its true spirit and ideals, never was more in danger of being overthrown. We should face such a crisis not by pulling down our flag and surrendering but by throwing up our bulwarks and clinging more tenaciously to the ideals that made the homes of the past the great influence that they were.

[The Biship of Chelmsford, as quoted in the Stratford Express, London, England]

The two biggest words in the world to-day are "character" and "service"; and education is the opportunity of fitting yourself to make the most of life for yourself and other people.