Editorial April 15, 1911 Issue

UNCONSCIOUS MINISTRY

John B. Willis

There could be no holier, more beautiful aspiration than the desire that one's unconscious influence over others might become an unvaryingly helpful ministry to them. A knowingly exerted influence may witness simply to the significance of one's words or doings, it does not necessarily speak for one's real character; but the silent radiations of one's life,—these always witness to what he truly is, they are too pervasive, too entirely beyond his control, to be determined or qualified by him; and when in a given case they illuminate and strengthen others, when they count for good, God, then indeed is this world blessed with the presence of one of those of whom Christ Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."

There is a sweet story told of one who thus went about his daily duty, diffusing virtue as a star diffuses light, without being aware of it, one whose spirit of giving and forgiving was expressed in gentle words and kindly deeds. When, as the story goes, an angel visited him and pressed upon him the privilege of securing some special gift, as a reward of merit, he asked only that he might "do a great deal of good without ever knowing it." And so humility became his crown, his life a benediction. Such a life-consummation is by no means far-fetched and impossible; on the contrary, Christian Science calls its every representative to entertain no lesser an ideal as the goal of his thoughtful ambition.

Jesus once spoke to his disciples of the assured experience of the righteous; that to them it would in due time be said, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you ... for I was an hungred and ye gave me meat; ... I was sick, and ye visited me." And that they in great wonderment and surprise would say, "Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? ... or when saw we thee sick, ... and came unto thee?" And it would be answered them: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." These words tell not only of our doing for God when doing for our brother, but of that uncalculated and often quite unconscious ministry to which Jesus called his disciples in his counsel, "When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth."

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