_COURAGE THROUGH COMPANIONSHIP_
THE world is full of lonely people--people who keep to themselves,
turning away from every approach of others, from all invitations to come
out of retirement. They persist in living alone, thinking their own
thoughts, pleasing only themselves.
"I can have no place in my life for friendship," one of these
unfortunates says.
"I can't be expected to devote myself to my family; it is all I can do
to make a living," is the complaint of another.
"I live in the present," says a third; "the past has no interest for me,
and the future holds nothing but worries."
"Live more out-of-doors, you say!" is the word of a fourth. "Why should
I bother about Nature when Nature does nothing but thwart me?"
"Make God my friend?" a fifth asks in surprise. "Talk to me in rational
terms. God doesn't bother about me; why should I bother about Him?"
Is it any wonder that the lives of so many everywhere are empty? It does
not occur to them that by their determination to isolate themselves they
cut themselves off from the surest road to courage, both received and
given--the road of companionship with the people and things most worth
while.
I