An article written by my father, the Rev. C. Thomas Paige, as it appeared in the Tri-State Defender on the date shown.
Almost – the most tragic word in our history. Nothing is more pathetic than to see the expression on the face of a man who suddenly realizes that he almost made it.
Day after day, I come in contact with those who “almost” made it: “almost” a good man, “almost” a graduate of college, “almost” finished high school, “almost” joined church and countless others.
In the Bible we find a story of an influential churchman who pleaded with a man to change his way of living only to hear, at the end of his efforts, “Almost thou are persuadest me to be a Christian.”
No one can know the imprint upon history had this unfortunate man accepted Christ as his personal Saviour. No one today is in a position to properly evaluate what would have happened to our world had every broken dream been realized. I know that, in some instances, it would not have been in keeping with our best interest for some of our dreams to have come true.
NEED SOME ALMOSTS
Many of us have proved that we can not keep our equilibrium when all goes well. It is not in the best interest of each of us to have all of our efforts end in success. It is better for many of us that, somewhere down the line, we can say “almost.”
Yet, on the other hand. there are times when, through neglect, indifference, and the like, we look back over life and see what could have happened and we summarize the whole affair as “almost.”
Last week, I noticed in one of my favorite visiting places these words: “Make the most of yourself, ’cause that is all that you will ever have!” As I turned these words over in my mind, they became more and more meaningful. I wonder if these words, which were not seen by many, would not reawaken something in all of us that would place a new meaning on our lives.
PRECIOUS POSSESSIONS
All the material possessions we might have can never be compared with the most precious possession we have — ourselves. I wonder if this does not place upon all of us a new seriousness as we set out to develop within ourselves a life and a being that should be meaningful. “Make the most of yourself!” I fee that many of us have forgotten the power of the individual — the power of you and I as individuals.
Great contributions are being made daily by people like you and me, great homes are made up of individuals like you and me, great communities are made up on people like you and me, and great nations are made up of people like you and me. We must never look down on the idea of the power of the individual as long as there are improvements to be made and work to be done.
We must awaken ourselves and learn and know that if the world is ever going to get better, it will only get better in proportion that you and I are better. One of the most tragic things about the world is wrapped up in the idea that as many of us look back over life, we see the grim reminder that the world is in the condition it is because many of us have failed to live up to the expectations in us.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
I always enjoy your father’s words. Today especially.
We tend to think of education as expensive, and it is. However, the cost is small in coins. What it costs us is a commitment to self-improvement through Christ, but most of us will not relinquish the escapes that this world offers us. We too much dread facing knowledge that we need saving. Hopefully, your father’s words will change a few minds.