Article September 12, 1903 Issue

Improved Moments

M. ETHEL WHITCOMB.

I HAVE often pondered these words written by Mrs. Eddy: "Success in life depends upon persistent effort, upon the improvement of moments more than upon any other one thing" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 230). Most of us are longing for success in life, for spiritual progression, but are we taking into consideration that it depends upon the "improvement of moments more than upon any other one thing"?

Many persons have no realizing sense of the value of time, and as the result hundreds of unimproved moments are wasted,—moments which might be spent in the service of humanity, or in gaining a higher sense of health and harmony for oneself. But, one asks, "How do I throw away moments when I am busy all day at the office or in the home?" and the answer is. In thinking on those things which should not be thought of, or in not striving to dwell in thought upon the beautiful and the true.

Looking out of my window one day I saw a man who was employed in painting a house; the foreman was not present, and, taking advantage of this, the man had left his work and was loitering his time away. I could but think how much dishonesty we see expressed in these little things. Here is a man wasting time which belongs to another. Then came also the thought, What blindness, here am I standing in judgment of another, and yet doing precisely the same thing myself. I had left the right thinking which I should have been employed in, as a child of God, and was throwing away moments in useless criticism,—moments which my Father had intrusted to me to improve

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