Being and Doing – 9 July – The Heroic Impulses

IT IS a calumny on men to say that they are roused to heroic action by ease, hope of pleasure, recompense-sugar plums of any kind, in this world or the next!   In the meanest mortal there lies something nobler.   It is not to taste sweet things, but to do noble and true things, and vindicate himself under God’s heaven, as a God-made man, that the poorest son of Adam dimly longs.   Show him the way of doing that, the dullest day-drudge kindles into a hero.   They wrong man greatly who say he is to be seduced by ease.   Difficulty, abnegation, martyrdom, death, are the allurements that act on the heart of man.   Kindle the inner genial life of him, you have a flame that burns up all lower considerations.   Not happiness, but something higher;  one sees this even in the frivolous classes, with their ‘point of honour,’ and the like. Not by flattering our appetites;  no, by awakening the Heroic that slumbers in every heart, can any religion find followers

CARLYLE

LET us only have a religious purpose, grand, inspiring, and devout, and we shall not have to complain of a want of zeal.

Christian Life

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These quotes are from ‘Being and Doing’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1908 for members of the Being and Doing Guild whose object is to do all they can for the relief of suffering and misery.

Most of the writers are 19th Century Christians from Britain and Europe who were committed to living their faith through deeds as well as words – Being AND Doing.

For many years these words have kept me company and encouraged me on the journey of faith.  I hope they will encourage others also.