Making A Better World - Milton Louw

To be without desire is to be content. But contentment is not happiness. And in contentment there is no progress. Happiness is to desire something, to work for it, and to obtain at least a part of it. In the pursuit of beloved labor the busy days pass cheerfully employed, and the still nights in peaceful sleep. For labor born of desire is not drudgerey, but manly play. Success brings hope, hope inspires fresh desire, and desire gives zest to life and joy to labor. This is true whether your days be spent in the palaces of the powerful or in some little green byway of the world. Therefore, while yet you have the strength, cherish a desire to do some useful work in your little corner of the world, and have the steadfastness to labor. For this is the way to the happy life; with health and endearing ties, it is the way to the glorious life.

All round is haste, confusion, noise. For power and wealth men stretch the day From dawn till dusk. But quietly I go my way. For glitter, show, to taunt the crowd, Desire-tossed in wild dismay, Men sell their souls. But quietly I go my way. The green of all the fields is mine; The stars, the night, the wind at play, A peaceful heart, while quietly I go my way.

I guess you think you know this story. You don't. The real one's much more gory. The phoney one, the one you know, Was cooked up years and years ago, And made to sound all soft and sappy just to keep the children happy. Mind you, they got the first bit right, The bit where, in the dead of night, The Ugly Sisters, jewels and all, Departed for the Palace Ball, While darling little Cinderella Was locked up in a slimy cellar, Where rats who wanted things to eat, Began to nibble at her feet. She bellowed 'Help!' and 'Let me out! The Magic Fairy heard her shout. Appearing in a blaze of light, She said: 'My dear, are you all right?' 'All right?' cried Cindy .'Can't you see 'I feel as rotten as can be!' She beat her fist against the wall, And shouted, 'Get me to the Ball! 'There is a Disco at the Palace! 'The rest have gone and I am jealous! 'I want a dress! I want a coach! 'And earrings and a dia...

A clear, cool night. I have been reading, but the thoughts of man do not solace me. I raised the curtain and looked at the moon, clear and silvery; and I brushed some of the unrest out of my mind. I know all the theories of the moon. There have been times when the symbols of science have robbed me of some of its mystery and charm. But no one can explain the moon any more than a grasshopper can explain me. In youth, the moon promised too much. But now I understand better; that was not the moon's fault. Also the moon and I have this in common: We both are wanderers across the night.

What fool shall say, "My days are fair, God's in his world and all is well," When half mankind shrieks in despair Worse than in Dante's flaming hell! I cannot sing in happy mood While hostile armies take their toll. On these dark days I toil and brood With starless midnight in my soul. And yet, O World, O Life, O God! I find myself, jest as the fool, Believing in thy chastening rod, Believing still that love must rule.

It has been raining again. I have been indoors, meditating on the shortcomings of life. I wish there were more kindly persons in the world. Our competitive life develops selfishness and unkindness. I am determined to do something about it. I cannot hope to convert many persons. To convert one person, I shall do well. I will begin with the person I know best - myself. When it rains and one is much indoors one is likely to meditate on the shortcomings of life. Let me think - how shall I make myself kind, gentle considerate? I do believe it has stopped raining. I can go out now. I'll go and shoot on the archery range. I'll not bother to reform myself today. Perhaps tomorrow - if it is raining, and I must stay indoors, and meditate on the shortcomings of life.

Whatever else you do or forbear, impose upon yourself the task of happiness; and now and then abandon yourself to the joy of laughter. And however much you condemn the evil in the world, remember that the world is not all evil; that somewhere children are at play, as you yourself in the old days; that women still find joy in the stalwart hearts of men; And that men, treading with restless feet their many paths, may yet find refuge from the storms of the world in the cheerful house of love.