Editorial September 14, 1899 Issue

Who Did Hinder You?

Editor

It is second nature to attribute our backwardness in spiritual growth or our failure to grow, to the frowardness of persons or circumstances. The Scriptures ask. "Who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" and "Mortal Mind," the advocate of Self, replies, urging that such a one hindered him by slighting his efforts and refusing to give him credit for what he had done, or that circumstances frustrated his good intentions, and thus caused him to fail.

Let us resolve never to whine, but to answer manfully and meekly the questioning voice of Spirit, with the honest confession that our sinful self-love, and that only, hath hindered us. Is God's child, the reflection of Omnipotence and Omniscience, so circumscribed, that any outward person or thing can hinder him from unfolding the divine nature with which he is endowed? Is there any other success than this unfolding? Is there any other failure than to remain tightly rolled up in self?

It is almost fatal to the growth of true manly and womanly character as revealed in Christian Science, to accept the wrong standard of what constitutes success. If we fondly dream of wealth, leadership, or fame, and think that these are the insignia of success, we shall miss "the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Our real success never for one moment depends upon the help or hindrance of other people. If our desire is to become magnificent and mighty among men, then we may be hindered from realizing our desire by the untoward attitude of men or events; but if our only aim is to be humble, kind, loving, honest, and pure, who or what can hinder us, except our own idolatrous love of self?

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