Editorial Postscripts

Changes!—Periodic changes are wholesome for pastor, departmental secretary, teacher, manager, conference executive—in fact, for workers in all categories. Changes, after a due period of service, are desirable both for the worker's sake and for the sake of the cause as well. A man grows when occasionally given a change of location with new conditions, new associates, and new chal­lenges. These prove a wholesome stimulus. They arouse latent powers, and better and stronger service and growth result. The cause likewise profits by the new impetus. New peo­ple can often be reached by a new personality, and added to the faith. Past mistakes in judg­ment or method can be more easily righted. It is a handicap for a young man to grow up, go through college, through his internship, and finally spend all his ministry in one small sec­tion of the field. If he succeeds it is over definite handicaps. He is just John or William. People think of him as they used to know him. They remember his youthful carelessness, or his poor grades, or the dubious success of his beginning days. But when he goes to a new section as Elder William Jones or Elder John Smith, these handicaps are removed, and he has a freer and more normal chance to grow and expand. Yes, periodic changes, after due service, are wise and helpful.

Maximum!—How is it that some whom we have released from service can go outside and secure and fill posts we never dreamed they could compass. We hold them to mediocre tasks that gave no scope or promise. We did not sense their latent possibilities or give them a chance to develop. If a person shows faithfulness and ability, thrust opportu­nity and responsibility upon him. He can just as well do larger things for us as for the world. Perhaps we did not want people of this type to advance, but just wanted them for drudgery or convenience. Perhaps we did not want to pay more than for mediocre, minor service. Then we must not complain if they go on to greener fields and more satisfactory opportunities. We have lost many young people of promise from our service because we wanted them for per­petual drudgery. But every soul with a spark of ambition wants to grow, to advance, to achieve, to contribute to the maximum of his or her ability. Let us help men to forge ahead to that end. He who trains and advances his junior as­sociates is making his own greatest contribu­tion.

Gulf!—It is quite possible to be orthodox in belief and well-nigh impeccable in personal adherence to sound practices—such as health reform—and yet have a harsh, critical spirit, withal, that condemns others and inevitably estranges them. On the other hand, there are those who would be denominated "liberals" in their attitudes and practices, but who have big, generous hearts—who are kind and tolerant of others, and who actually exemplify the spirit of Christ more than their strait-laced brethren. The intolerant, phara­saical spirit of the first group is repulsive to such, and they are naturally unimpressed with the tight combination of orthodoxy and intoler­ance. On the contrary, to the first group the liberalism of the second category is anathema. And so they wrap their robes of self-satisfaction more closely about them, and the gulf betwixt is deepened. Brethren, we must find a way to bridge that gulf through the loving spirit and charity of Christ. It will come through believ­ing in the honesty and sincerity of men, in pray­ing for them, and in opening the heart wide enough to receive them into Christian fellow­ship. Then the differences will be more easily narrowed, 'and oneness become an actuality.

Retribution!—Our proclivities have a disconcerting way of catching up with us. If we play politics to obtain or to hold a position, removal will surely come sooner or later. If we pull wires and connive with others to accomplish even worthy ends, these devices will ultimately entangle and trip us, and prove our undoing. If we are unwisely intimate with some worker, always manipulating for his ad­vantage or our own, separation will assuredly be brought about in time. If we are light and trifling in our work, making jocularity our identifying characteristic, it will in time bring about our downfall. If we are incompetent in our work and are kept on only because of the leniency and mercy of the brethren, the hour of change will surely strike. The law of retribution is inexorable. The law of cause and effect, though seemingly inactive for a time, is never­theless definitely operative. And when it strikes it often does so with disconcerting suddenness. This is God's work, and should ever be con­ducted in accordance with His plans, His methods, and His spirit. Human manipulations have no rightful place in the work of the church. When indulged in, men have no cause for complaint when they come to the hour of retribution.

L. E. F.