An article written by my father, the Rev. C. Thomas Paige, as it appeared in the Tri-State Defender on the date shown.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither shall there be sorrows, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things shall pass away.” — Revelation 21:4
A few days ago a young lady came to my office. Her eyes were red with loss of sleep, her cheeks were stained with tears, and her heart was broken with despair. She had come to the breaking point in life. She, like many of us, had exhausted every source for achievement of her goals, and now with the same almost in sight and when friends would be most appreciated, she looks around and finds none. Over her head in debt, low on fortitude, and darkness embracing all about, she comes to the preacher to find an answer.
As I looked at the poor downhearted creature, my deepest sympathies went out for her. In the words of Longfellow, “I was once a barefoot boy.” I was once in her place – or should I stop at once? Nothing is more heartrending than to reach for goals that cannot be obtained. It is at this point that life becomes unbearable.
Life is a great thing when we are surrounded with a host of friends, some money and the like, but when you awake one day and find out that some of these things have been exchanged for adversities, life takes on a new color. But life is so designed that sooner or later, all of us run into this.
The tragic this is it usually comes when we can least afford it. It always attacks us when strength and fortitude are at their lowest ebb. We find ourselves having to go beyond ourselves to find an answer for our problems. In the final analysis, these things are no more than tests in disguise.
You listen to people come up with all types of excuses. You find yourself on the verge of losing faith in mankind. You are ready to throw up your arms in disgust and cry out, “Oh, what’s the use” when a still, small voice speaks out in the chaos and confusion and says to you, “I am with you.” With assurance restored once again, you move on to greater darkness and despair. Amidst all of this, a new idea strikes the mind and once again, you are reminded that there will be a tearless and dark-less night and all cares shall be moved away.
In the midst of all the agony, grief, and despair, in the midst of all that life pours upon us, we must be able to reach within and find some source that will enable us to keep on going on. Years ago a group of former slaves “looked back and wondered how they got over.” Life is so designed that in our closing years, after all of the narrow escapes, pitfalls and the like, we will do likewise. There must be something within each of us that will enable us to rise up to every ordeal of life.
Recently we have witnessed a series of suicides. These represent men and women who lacked the fortitude to keep on going on in spite of adversities. Life must be so organized that in days of happiness and prosperity, we fortify ourselves to the point that when the unfavorable comes into our lives, we will be able to reach down and refuel with hidden energy.
This young lady was only a symbol of people of all walks of life. There are countless thousands just like her.
Standing on the very brink of misfortune and indecision are people looking for a way out of their troubles. There must be someone who is in a position to lead them to higher and nobler heights. This can be realized only to the extent that each of us is fortified ourselves. We cannot strengthen another on our weakness. We must first be strong ourselves and then, out of our strength, be able to point them to tearless days, circles of friends, and all of those things that will make for a wholesome life. In proportion that we are able to do this, we will make heaven come on earth for everyone.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 