LINCOLN’S MISSION
In Light from Many Lamps: A Treasury of Inspiration (edited by Lillian Eichler Watson) there is a moving passage describingLincon's departure from his little town of Springfield in Illinois, OrWashington, to take up the office of President of the United States. A small crowd had gathered to give him awarm sendoff. Neither his wife nor his children accompanied him to the stationas she had quarreled with him that morning. It was a very rainy day, and as hespoke, before stepping onto the train, hischeeks were wet with rain—or was it tears? He looked tired and worn, but his voice was warmwith affection:
My friends, no one in my situation can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting ... Here I have lived a quarter of a century ... heremy children were born and one is buried. I now leave not knowing when orwhether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which restedupon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being Who has everattended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannotfail.
Lincoln never returned to Springfield. The conduct of those who were closest to him must have pained him no end, but it impeded neither histrain journey, nor the more important one as President. Perhaps his mostmemorable words were in the Gettysberg address, “With malice to none, withgoodwill to all.” A man with a purpose is an integrated personality andwhen the chips are down, he has to show what he stands for Even in the WhiteHouse, his wife was never very supportive but Lincoln remained undeterred inhis purpose.
Lincoln's aim was to preserve the Union of America and abolish slavery. This he thought he would achieve initially providing compensation tothe slave owners. But the Southerners seceded and he had to go to war. Then heissued his Proclamation of Emancipation of the Slave, saying, “A nationcannot exist half slave and half free.” On another occasion he said; Iknow there is a God and that He hates injustice and slavery. I see the stormcorning and I know that His hand is in it. If He has a place and work for me,and I think He has, I believe I am ready. I am nothing, but truth iseverything; I know I am right because I know that liberty is right.
When, towards the end of the war, his forces were winning over the Southern forces, a man came up to him and asked agitatedly, 'And now, MrPresident, how are you going to treat the Southerners?' Lincoln replied: 'As ifthey never went in war.' Thus, it was his purpose that dominated, not hispersonal feelings or a desire for revenge. He remained true to his words; “Withmalice to none, with goodwill to all.”
Another factor that strengthened his purpose was his faith, On the eve of the battle of the Bull Run, the first major land battle of the AmericanCivil War, a colleague remembers passing by a door that was slightly ajar. Hesaw Abraham Lincoln kneeling at his bedside by candlelight, pleading to God toshow him what he should do, saying that his own strength was not enough toserve his people. His purpose was sustained by his faith in a power higher thanhimself.
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