HE A' D Official Organ Of T
Sla:vonie Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas. Founded 1897.
BENEVOLENCE
VOLUME 55 — NO. 7
HUMANITY
BROTHERHOOD
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FR WATCH YOUR. MUSIC! Someone once said that life is a symphony at which all the world is the listener. Each life is a performance of that symphony. Each person is his own instrument, responsible for its care, its tone, and its performance. If the instrument is in tune and played properly, one will hear only sweet melodic phrases and harmony. Like in a real orchestra, one instrument, one person, may be off tune, and the entire performance is marred by discord, the harmony disrupted. In an orchestra the musician may be a master of his art, but an inferior instrument will ruin his performance. The important thing in life is not how long and how loudly we play, but how well . . . Soloists are created by constant rehearsal, hours of hard practice and study. It is not given — nor meant — for every man to be a soloist. Some people have to content themselves with being mere players in the ensemble. Yet, the success or failure of the entire performance depends on how all of them play together. Watching the performance of a large orchestra, it is not hard to draw a parallel between the performance and life itself. Every human life is an instrument, and if used perfectly, will result in a better performance — a harmonious performance. Having
FEBRUARY 15, 1967
_il, EDITOR'S DISK THINK IT OVER . "A nation, I suggest, so tremendously engaged in becoming nothing people — a nation motivated by unconscious fear — can hardly hope to create a Great Society, the precondition of which is a great citizenry. Such a nation can hardly hope at all; in fact, Hope, like faith, is founded on something, however frail, and not on noth—Philip Wylie ing." • • "Nowadays a lot of TV interviewers want to appeal to the hostile, the morbid and sadistic. They're the cutters and the slashers. And there's a lot of appeal around for them. If you don't believe it, just get in your car and don't start up quickly when the light changes. I'm not very religious, but I believe in doing good for good's sake. What else is there?" —Art Linkletter knowledge of our instruments alone does not make us better musicians, but if we are wise in using the instrument in a harmonious performance, then the music of life will result in a tune that will bring happiness to all with whom we come in contact — and that is wisdom. Knowledge is not wisdom, but wisdom is knowledge applied. Yes, every human life is an instrument of the Creator, and if we think we can do things in life without regard for others, we will bring discord
into our lives. Unfortunately, some people are not equipped with perfect instruments. They are either bad musicians, or they do not watch their music. The resulting discord spoils the beauty of the entire performance. In a moment of self-pity we might say that we never had the opportunity to acquire the talent necessary to be a good performer. Lincoln had little opportunity to study, but he made the most of it. Andrew Carnegie was no mental giant, but night school after a hard day's labor made him one. His greatest capacity was knowing how to get along with his fellow-workers and inspiring them to do their best. Those two men, and many more like them, watched their music . Only some of us will be soloists; others will be players; some will lead and some will follow. But play in the symphony of life we all must. And when we assume our place in the symphony of life, let's be sure "we're tuned in," and 'Hatch the music! Keeping In Touch . . It doesn't matter how well one understands life insurance, nor how well he can explain it, nor how much he likes people and wants to serve them— all this is "surface stuff" if the salesman doesn't keep, in touch with his clients. People forget names and faces so easily and so quickly. So many sales