"One hour a day withdrawn from frivolous pursuits and profitably employed would enable any man of ordinary capacity to master a complete science. One hour a day would in ten years make an ignorant man a well-informed man. In an hour a day a boy or girl could read twenty pages thoughtfully - over seven thousand pages, or eighteen large volumes in a year. An hour a day might make all the difference between a bare existence and a useful, happy living. An hour a day might make - nay, has made - an unknown man a famous one, a useless man a benefactor to his race. Consider, then, the mighty possibilities of two -four - yes, six hours a day that are on average, thrown away by young men and women in the restless desire for fun and diversion." Orison Swett Marden.When I was young, I used to read the cereal box as I ate breakfast. At some point it dawned on me that I could do better.
Photo by Miguel Angel de Arriba Cuadrado
4 comments:
Greetings Dear Fred!
This post calls to mind several thoughts... First, your cereal box comment made me laugh. Second, if just a few minutes a day can accomplish so much, it's no wonder that I'm loving hymns so much right now... Many of the people who wrote them spent hours and hours every day in prayer and Bible study. Third (sigh) I do so hope that when I read this to them, my children will be captured by this concept and will begin to make better use of the minutes of their lives. Hmmm, not only them, but me as well.
God bless you, my friend!
Hi Mel,
I'm glad you liked this post.
I did too.
I do think it is important to note that he addresses this in particular to young men and women. I take that to mean those years when you and I got into most of our troubles like about 18 to mid twenties, maybe longer for me.
Anyway, I don't think his intention is to steal from youth the joyful years where life should be carefree. I think those carefree years will come back to us when we are older and we need a place to mentally retreat to for a breath of fresh memory. Don't you?
My childhood is an emotional foundation for me in these years when my spring has sprung and I can no longer run with the wind.
The most wonderful temporal gift I have is that I had a joyful childhood.
Many blessings in Christ,
Fred
Im not giving up my cereal box love.
I smiled and laughed a lot when reading morning comics....
Now I'm too busy for such frivolousness....(exaggerated sigh)
Donna :)
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