Precept & Practice – MAY 9 – Castles in the Air

Think of all the rare materials that are ready to our hand, the possibilities of loving service, the priceless memories that we have garnered, the constant perception of beauties in the characters of others, thankfulness that so many have kept themselves unspotted from the world, and for the rest the quiet confidence that love, which is the highest wisdom, is justified of all her children.   Think of the trivial acts of goodwill that touch our lives from day to day, quickening our faith in the unseen goodwill behind every earthly happening and all apparent hostility, deepening the sense of human solidarity, that in itself is happiness.   Think of the peace we enter through the gate of humility, by the unmerited grace of God and man, and the assurance of the deep heart of forgiveness below all condemnation the joy of living in a universe where there are no locked doors, but everywhere, even from the valley of Achor, an open road of the spirit, free to vagabond as to king.   Whether it be a castle of faith, or joy, or service – there is only to build!

May Kendall

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From the Introduction to Precept and Practice

The kindly welcome given to my other little books, ‘Being and Doing’ and ‘Character and Conduct,’ must be my excuse for adding another collection of extracts to the number now in circulation.

The quotations are gathered from the books of many earnest thinkers, and deal with Life in all its length and breadth, with ourselves, our characters, our plain unvarnished faults and weaknesses, our often untoward circumstances, and with all that drags us down;-  with our purposes, our religion, our love and friendships, and with all that uplifts us;-  with our relation to others, our influence and responsibilities, and finally with those stages of our journey which bring us to the Road’s Last Turn and to the Silent Land.

CONSTANCE  M. WHISHAW