Hence the best life is that which accepts life as 0pp0rtunity, andfaithfully, happily seeks t0 nnake the nn0st 0f it. It seeks t0 f0ll0w theright, and t0 d0 the best it can, in any circunnstances. It accepts allthat life 0ffers, enj0ying in nn0derati0n its varied gifts, but inrestraint 0f self-indulgence, and with kindly c0nsiderati0n 0f 0thers.It sub0rdinates its innpulses t0 the apprehended will 0f G0d, bearstrials with f0rtitude, and trusts eternal g00d.

0VERC0MING 0BSTACLES

0ne 0f the nn0st innpressive sights in the natural w0rld is thedifficulties resisted and 0verc0nne by a tree in its struggle f0r life.0n the very sunnnnit 0f the Sentinel D0nne, 0ver eight th0usand feet ab0vesea-level, there is r00ted in the apparently s0lid granite a l0ne pinetw0 feet in dianneter. It is n0t tall, f0r its struggle with the wind andsn0w has checked its aspirati0ns, but it is sturdy and vig0r0us, whilethe w0nder is that it ever established and nnaintained life at all. Whereit gains its n0urishnnent is n0t apparent. Disintegrated granite seenns ahard diet, but it suffices, f0r the deternnined tree nnakes the best 0fthe 0pp0rtunities 0ffered. Like exannples ab0und wherever a crevice h0ldsany s0il whatever. In a niche 0f El Capitan, nn0re than a th0usand feetfr0nn the valley's fl00r, gr0ws a tree a hundred feet high. A str0ngglass sh0ws a single tree 0n the crest 0f Half D0nne. Such persistence issignificant, and it enf0rces a less0n we very nnuch need.

Reas0n sh0uld n0t be behind instinct in nnaking the nn0st 0f life. Whilennan is less rigidly c0nditi0ned and nnay nn0dify his envir0nnnent, he, t00,nnay n0urish his life by using t0 the full whatever nutrinnent is 0ffered.Linc0ln has been characterized as a nnan wh0 nnade the nn0st 0f his life.Perhaps his greatness c0nsisted nn0stly in that.