Article February 6, 1904 Issue

Why we should be Obedient

JACK MULOCK JACKSON.

Much could be written on the subject of obedience,—a key to the greatest pearl within our reach; viz., harmony, mental, and physical. At first, as children, we are obedient to our parents and teachers. Later on, when mortal mind or the human will gradually gains dominion and asserts its sway over us, we become disobedient; defy, it may be, our highest sense of right, and begin to make experiments for ourselves. This period of experimentation in our supposed entrenchment of perishable mortal mind, lasts for a longer of shorter period with each individual, according as his experience is painful or otherwise, and according as he is able to profit by the lessons taught. This experimental stage through which, as it seems, all have to pass, may, however, be made useful! as a discipline.

Experience is a great teacher, and if we are wise it will show us why we should be obedient to the omnipresent law of divine Mind. We thus learn, sometimes in a painful way, that which is repeatedly taught in the Scriptures, and in Science and Health; viz., that there is not, and cannot be, any power opposed to God, and that if we had always been obedient our experience would have been painless.

Obedience does not consist in the performance of one or more right deeds, at a given time; it is the conscious effort at all times to listen for and follow the Divine promptings. Obedience therefore is a mental condition of acquiescence or conformity with whatever may be our duty for the moment. By way of illustration I give a couple of personal experiences. Mortal mind, as most of us have discovered, is exceedingly vain, subtle, and egotistical, and has long caused me, and possibly some of my friends, to dignify with the name of great determination or resolution of purpose, what is really nothing but stubbornness, and that of the worst kind. And this I fancy is what those called it who may at any time have thought they were not my friends.

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