Article July 15, 1911 Issue

"GO UP HIGHER"

BELLE A. MUNDY

The first few years in Christian Science are sometimes spent in overcoming error, in demonstrating over the illusions of sense and in the elimination of the material sense of selfhood. Then comes a time of fruition, of peace and hope! While resting securely in this newly found haven, the storms of passion temporarily cease, and the bark of life is anchored in peaceful waters. Then through the quiet of a consecrated consciousness comes the command, "Friend, go up higher"! We are bidden to rise to a higher plane, to scale the highest peaks of holiness, to reach the very dome of the spiritual universe; and our mental pathway lies through infinite space.

As thought reverts to the parable which tells of the man who sat in the lowest place from choice, we see that humility is a necessity. But the master of the feast, wishing to reward him for his self-effacement, summous him to a higher position, even at his own right hand. Now this change of place would involve greater, activity on the part of the one so summoned. His words must be more carefully chosen; his new associates must find him equal to the rank to which he has been exalted. Humility in the lowest place was a necessity; humility in the highest is a grace. Human pride will sometimes shrink from advancement, saying, "Now I shall be called upon to do more." Under the guise of humility self will say, "Oh, I prefer to remain unknown and forgotten." But why? In order to have an easy time? To such a one the voice of the Master comes not in invitation, but as a command, "Friend, go up higher"!

Truth will see to it that each is put where he belongs—not always at the foot of the table; at least, if one is faithful he certainly cannot remain there. Progress is the law, even of human life, and Truth compels us to make this progress. The mental condition which says, "I do not wish to be called upon to fill a prominent position," is not of God but of the flesh. True humility in the first instance makes us shrink from sight, but in the second causes us to come boldly forward to meet the demands of Truth. "I know what I can do,—all things, 'through Christ which strengtheneth me,'—and I am glad to do it," is the cry of the true-hearted when called upon to read in church, to lecture, to teach, to heal the sick.

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