Editorial December 27, 1947 Issue

COURAGE, DEAR PILGRIM!

John Randall Dunn

The Bible reports that Moses, referred to in various places in Holy Writ as "the man of God."' numbered one hundred and twenty years when he went from human sight; and we are told that "his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated" (Deut. 34:7). There is no record that he received any so-called birthday presents on the day he reached his one hundred and twentieth milestone, but he himself made a great gift to the whole human family. Calling on the children of Israel to go forward with the Almighty against their enemies, he gave this ringing challenge: "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" (Deut. 31:6).

Here we find the only definite remedy for discouragement mankind has ever been offered. Discouragement is plainly the absence of courage, just as discord is the absence of concord or harmony, and darkness is the absence of light. Is there a cure for darkness other than the bringing in of light? What then can banish an absence of courage but courage? The erudite Mr. Webster mentions several synonymous terms, indicating that the word "courage" is in good company. In this list we find that courage is akin to bravery, dauntlessness, gallantry, boldness, intrepidity, valor, and fortitude, to mention just a few of the synonyms.

At this point someone may say. But how may one summon intrepidity, boldness, and fortitude when all about him is the darkness of fear and discouragement? The Science of Christianity makes answer, By learning to know the truth about God and His creation; by learning to know what is real and what is unreal. This glorious truth dawned on the consciousness of Mary Baker Eddy in the latter half of the nineteenth century and wrought for her an unmistakable Christian healing. Glimpsing the fact of the omnipotence of God, good, she deduced the powerlessness, or unreality, of anything opposing good. Realizing that man made in God's image, must reflect the changeless goodness of his creator, she saw that the child of God, infinite good, is never at the mercy of evil—of that which is the absence of good. Someone has well said that this Christian woman, although confronted with the relentless dogma of centuries, took the sponge of her mighty logic and wiped the theological blackboard clean!

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