Blog 3963 – 10.30.2026

Times That Try The Soul

I recall a couple of typing exercises from my Middle School days and as a nineteen years old teletype repairman for the U.S. Army in 1970 South Vietnam. We typed the phrase, “THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG’S BACK 1234567890” because it checked all the key type faces on the teletype and in eighth grade typing class we typed the phrase from a Thomas Paine, “These are the times that try men’s souls…” over and over to improve our words per minute typing speed. I never improved much beyond thirty words per minutes because I used my typing exercise time to compose love poems to Jan Rider, one of the prettiest and most beloved girls in my grade from fifth grade to twelfth.

Good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, prosperous or poor, these are always the times that try all ours souls to prove what metal we are made of, whether we are courageous or cowardly, straight or bent, strong or weak. Our higher best self is ever prepared to come to our aid with loving and infinite resources more than any match for what trials come our way, I believe. The New Testament phrase comes to mind, “In due season we shall reap if we faint not.”

This has been a particularly trying month for me having to face some particular dark days that I have seen coming for several years. The optimist in me wants to believe there is always a light at the end of every tunnel and a brighter day that follows even the darkest night.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David James White