Article April 26, 1947 Issue

Rigidity and Elasticity

SALLY FORTH

The value of elasticity, as opposed to rigidity, should not be underestimated by students of Christian Science, and when pondering the subject, it is illuminating for them to study what Mary Baker Eddy says on page 160 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany." There she writes: "Most of us willingly accept dead truisms which can be buried at will; but a live truth, even though it be a sapling within rich soil and with blossoms on its branches, frightens people." It is always more difficult to plow virgin soil than to cultivate fields which have been under cultivation. In the same way we must not yield to the temptation to cling to familiar texts from the Bible and our Leader's writings, when there are undreamed-of riches waiting to be unearthed, if only we will dig for them. One By-Law (Art. VIII. Sect. 9) in our Church Manual provides: "No member shall use written formulas, nor permit his patients or pupils to use them, as auxiliaries to teaching Christian Science or for healing the sick." We may well remember this timely admonition when we feel inclined to repeat well-worn statements of truth, instead of searching for fresh spiritual manna for our daily needs.

Generally it is fear and a subtle element of stubbornness or conservatism which prevent our recognizing new aspects of good, whereas confidence in the dynamic nature of Spirit makes it impossible for one to be deprived of anything contributing to his true welfare and growth. Sometimes one may be forced into taking a step which, although distasteful at first, eventually proves to be an impetus to progress and expansion. The writer can recall at least two occasions when an unwelcome change of position was resisted which later proved beneficial and enabled her to attend church services and meetings with greater ease.

An illustration of the obstructive nature of rigidity is seen in the person who will not sample or test some unknown variety of food simply because he has not come across it before. Beverly Nichols tells us in his book "Verdict on India" that a poor Bengali woman, starving for lack of nourishment, refused to touch the cakes he sent from his own table. Rice was her only concept of food, and lacking that she would rather starve!

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