Elk County Catholic High School - Memories Yearbook (St Marys, PA)

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7' .,.:sf 'bQi 2 -1 'Q-- -DH ' A ,. 4 ', ,,. IN OURSELVES OUR FUTURE LIES HERE is an old story, somewhat like this: A man on his deathbed called his three sons to his side and bequeathed to them his vineyard with the injunction that while they dug about the vines they would find a hidden treasure. The young men set vigorously to work expecting to unearth a cof- fer of gold or gems. But none was found. Better tillage, however, produced an abundance of grapes which, when sold, brought them large profits. Think- ing the matter over, they understood what their father had meant by the hidden treasure . Now, our Father in Heaven has implanted a hidden treasure in the vine- yard He has assigned to each of us to till. This vineyard is divided into two parts-the spiritual or the land of our soul, and the temporal or our position in life. Both of these must be worked to the best of our ability. God has supplied us with tools of the most excellent quality in the education He has afforded us and the spiritual aids He offers us. His injunction to us is to work until He comes to pay us as His laborers. ln ourselves our future lies. On us, and on no one else depends what use we make of the tools at our disposal. The vineyard of our soul we must till by prayer, the devout reception of the Sacraments, and the living of a worthy life of honesty and toil. The vineyard of our position in life, we must care for with zeal cmd diligence. Whatever employment we assume, let us remember that toil is the secret of success-but only such toil succeeds which is done under the eye of God. A certain saint has well said that we must work as though all depended on ourselves and pray as though all depended on God. Life is what we make it . We must work out our own lives. We must have a certain confidence in our own ability that by prayer and persevering work we may accomplish the duties which lie before us. Many of us are ig- norant as to what we may undertake in our future lives, but by prayer and a good life the inspiration and opportunity will come, and when it does come, we must work, pray, and act in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Spirit which comes to us by way of inspiration. In ourselves our future lies. All the knowledge we have acquired during our twelve years of schooling, we will need to use to the best of our ability in the vineyard of life. Although no two of us shall leave our Alma Mater with the same amount of acquired knowledge, let each of us remember that cour- tesy and a willingness to profit by the experience and advice of our parents and of older persons will profit us materially in working out our future lives. Having worked our two-fold vineyard faithfully and perseveringly during our short life of trial, our Heavenly Father will surely give us the wages He has promised-Eternal Life. Leona Wortman. 'G '49 17 A