Article February 4, 1905 Issue

Perfection

A. B. MALLORY

It is safe to say that the foundation of all our striving, of all our ambition and hope in Christian Science, is the desire for perfection; and those who are trying to be Christian Scientiests should have, through its teachings, a larger conception of the inclusiveness and scope of the word. Some one has said that perfection consists not so much in doing extraordinary things as in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. In this may be found a lesson for those who are working in Christian Science, and it may also bring consolation to those whose lot it does not seem to be to make so-called "great demonstrations." All would undoubtedly like to solve great problems, demonstrate marvelous healing, and do things which would illustrate the wonderful power of good, but I fear that some of us often sit still at our Wednesday evening meetings because we deem our own small experiences too uniteresting to be given, and yet we know that Christian Science has an especial claim to the earnest consideration of mankind because its teachings are capable of practical demonstration, and are serviceable in all the affairs of our every-day life. We soon discover that our problems are ever at hand, and they are never so insignificant that we can afford to pass them by. We also learn that if we do the work which comes to us, unselfishly, unflinchingly, and with fidelity to Principle, our progress toward perfection must be marked, and our contribution to the sum-total of the world's happiness and progress must be great.

The injunction, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," is not a meaningless phrase, nor a demand impossible of attainment, but one that teems with energy and inspiration. The hourly demonstration over self, over the myriad temptations that seemingly beset our path, — appetite, temper, pride, envy, gloominess, hatred, malice, — and the willingness to extend a helping hand, to give an encouraging word or smile, to dispel darkness and sorrow and replace them with the sunshine and the joy of Truth, to do these things in accordance with the leading of divine Mind, these are surely the means whereby we may do ordinary things extraordinarily well, and thus advance the work which will lead us to perfection. — the realization of our highest hopes.

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