at dawn

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The World Needs Men

The World Needs Men
January 8, 2010 — Craig T. Owens
In our week of prayer we’ve been focusing our prayers on a different area each day. Last night we prayed for men. Men who love Jesus need to be the pacesetters in our families, our churches, our communities, our businesses.

What kind of men? We used this poem from Ted Engstrom to help us focus our prayers —

The world needs men
who cannot be bought;
whose word is their bond;
who put character above wealth;
who possess opinions and a will;
who are larger than their vocations;
who do not hesitate to take chances;
who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
who will make no compromise with wrong;
whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
who will not say they do it “because everybody else does it”;
who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity;
who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success;
who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;
who can say “no” with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says “yes.”
Can you be that man? The world needs you to be that man.

http://craigtowens.com/2010/01/08/the-world-needs-men/

Max Ehrmann

Max Ehrmann

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

Who should give the trigger?

I'm a subdelegate of one organization which related to the local region near my school. I got along with one teacher because I took her class and her interest is similar to me. She is now the delegate of our NPO.

We held an event which was not directly related to our common activities but somewhat that region. We invited local people and let them to speak their personal experience after the second WW. The most of people who have experienced the war have been passed away. But recently next generation ,son and daughter of dispatched people who interested in the conservation of war memories try to speak in front of the young people even though they don't have experience of going to warfare.

Their stories were fully interested for me. I was able to know some new things. However, After the event, we were disappointed about the number of the students who participated in. There were approximately 50 people. Surprisingly, it was 7 students that joined the event. Moreover Japanese student was only one. The rest of the students were international(exchange) students.

Needless to say, this showed the attitude towards such this debatable subjects as peace. This university is liberal arts and some of the classes, for example, human security and development cooperation, are related to peace somewhat. But the result may suggest most of the students be indifferent.

I personally believe having interest or issue of concern attributes one's personal experience. If the society matured, it should provide such kind of opportunity for them by education.

It is controversial.