Not a Broken Shaft

A meaningful quote attributed to the famous Italian humanist publisher Aldus Manutius (1449–1515) wisely said, “It is not work that kills; but no work and overwork.” Adventist pioneer James White (1821–1881) would fall into the second category. Holding to the motto “Better wear out than rust out,” he pushed himself over the years more than his strong body could tolerate. At age forty-four, James suffered a severe stroke of paralysis. Once he had recovered, he continued to work as hard as always.

In 1881, his wife, Ellen, tried to convince him that they should move away from the burdens of Battle Creek. But he replied, “Where are the men to do this work? Where are those who will have an unselfish interest in our institutions, and who will stand for the right, unaffected by any influence with which they may come in contact?” With tears in his eyes, he added, “My life has been given to the up-building of these institutions. It seems like death to leave them. They are as my children, and I cannot separate my interest from them. These institutions are the Lord’s instrumentalities to do a specific work.” One Sabbath morning, James and Ellen were together in the pulpit of the Battle Creek Tabernacle.

Two days later, on August 1, 1881, he suddenly became ill, and the following Sabbath, he died at the Battle Creek Sanitarium. While the diagnosis was that he died from malaria, behind his illness were the years of overworking as he helped develop the church. Because James died at the age of sixty without “completing” his ministry, some proposed putting up a broken shaft on his grave.

But Ellen responded, “Never!... Never! He has done, singlehanded, the work of three men. Never shall a broken monument be placed over his grave!” With sadness, she wrote, “Side by side we had labored in the cause of Christ for thirty-six years; and we hoped that we might stand together to witness the triumphant close.

But such was not the will of God.

The chosen protector of my youth, the companion of my life, the sharer of my labors and afflictions, has been taken from my side, and I am left to finish my work and to fight the battle alone.” Remember, sometimes we need to slow down to go further!