Editorial September 8, 1906 Issue

LABOR DAY LESSONS

Annie M. Knott

With the swift passing of time, Labor Day has again come and gone, but not without leaving its lessons in the things it must ever suggest to the thoughtful. St. Paul's words might be paraphrased to read: As in Adam work was a curse, even so in Christ it has become a blessing. Too long have men thought of labor as something degrading, and while this may be said of work ill-done, the fault is not in the work, but in the doing of it. Our revered Leader says, "Your work, well done, would dignify angels" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 11). Not many years ago work seemed much more irksome than at present; nevertheless, the good hoped for from improved appliances and methods has done little or nothing towards the solution of the real problems of human existence. Toil will remain as toilsome and disappointing as ever, until a measure of mental freedom is gained; until thought is liberated from the degrading service of self and materiality and lifted up to the realization of that lofty ideal which alone can give true freedom and bring blessings to all mankind.

Our first great need is to recognize the divine government in ourselves, and to obey its requirements with gladness. Thus the dignity of work is seen in its true light, for we are working out our salvation,—a process which includes all the minutiæ of human unfoldment, and which can never stop with the individual, but must make its beneficent influence felt wherever there is a wrong to right, in work or in its reward. We also need to know that our activities are divinely directed, for only thus can results be reached which are worth striving for. It used to be said that the head should direct the hands, but in Christian Science we are taught to go farther and know that the divine Mind directs and governs every faculty of man; and with such an ideal before us failure is impossible.

Those who come to understand and follow this divine guidance in all their work may sing as did the Virgin-mother,—"He hath shewed strength with his arm. . . . He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things." The lowliest service, no less than the loftiest, holds out to each the slate and pencil with which he may work his problem to the end and find that in so doing he is "a co-worker" with God. If faithful in that which is least, his work may be a vital part in the sublime whole of good, for Science is fast revealing the omnipotence of good in its every manifestation. If work seem arduous, we can say as did the Master, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." Well for each who can also say, As the Father works, so work I,—ever keeping in view the divine goal of true manhood and true work,—perfection in all we set ourselves to do.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

THE KERNEL IS BENEATH THE HUSK