Article November 20, 1902 Issue

"Taking Heed."

JESSICA CLARK THOMAS.

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." This verse has always seemed to me to have been written for almost any one other than myself. While a member of one of the orthodox churches it seemed a warning to those outside the fold. After learning in Christian Science that we were all of one fold with one Shepherd who loved all equally well, I began immediately to look about for those to whom my little verse might apply. I had no intention whatever of being among the number, there was such a threatening air about it; but it did seem to fit so exactly the self-righteous that again all was serene, for surely I was humble and even timid, and had no false sense of pride whatever to fall from. I did not realize then that the very humility I was congratulating myself upon, was the cloak chosen by my pride and self-righteousness. My thought was so fixed upon the standing and falling that I overlooked the taking heed. I fully appreciated the danger for others, and only yesterday tried to make it clear to a dear one that he must be on the alert continually lest he be surprised by error, then I settled back comfortably, feeling that because I had won a battle the week before I could afford to rest. But error is always busy and caught me unguarded. After the dismal failure of yesterday I went this morning to my Bible for help and opened to the lines above quoted. All doubt as to whom or for whom they were written vanished, and with it the uncomfortable feeling, for the threatening air was gone. It was simply a Father's tender warning to his child, "Take heed;" and my thought turned gratefully and lovingly to the Leader who gave to us the secret of it all when she said, "I will listen for thy voice, lest my footsteps stray."

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