Article November 2, 1912 Issue

SPIRITUAL PROGRESS

MIRIAM ORMONDE SMALLWOOD.

THAT trite old paradox, "reaching after the unattainable," is subject-matter for moral reflection. In the natural course of human progress the right thinking individual either shows his relation to man's divine origin, or betrays the spiritual impulse within him by a desire to advance steadily, and one cannot advance from a given point without first having reached that step by a similar stage. No man ever appreciated to the full the good he had, without reaching greater good. It is in dissatisfaction with present blessings that danger lurks; for these are often the winding road leading by sure steps, though the human consciousness so often fails to realize it.

Spiritual or moral advance is born not of apathetic satisfaction with any kind of condition which may happen to exist, but of content—that mental harmony to which Paul refers when he says, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." The very nature of content is its own recompense. Because man never stands still, he reflects eternally unfolding life; new beauty, higher ideals, are constantly awakening in him. A great writer says, "Dream delivers us to dream, and there is no end to the illusion." This is true of mortal existence, but with Truth as our guide we are constantly advancing, constantly rising from material concepts, which are indeed only dreams, into what is substantial, and reality is approached. We live on a higher plane, with thought freed from much of its shackling—thought taking heed to the admonishing of Spirit.

If, as Christian Science teaches, man coexists with God and reflects Him, man can no more stand still, he can no more abide in inaction than can God; as God's idea, he is eternally unfolding. St. John says, "It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him." Humanity has not yet escaped from the bondage of mortal conditions, but men are like children on the threshold of infinite Life. Above the horizon of material vision the star of Truth has risen, and as the spiritual sense expands mortals are led out of the wilderness of doubt and belief into the promised land of Life and Love. Step by step they advance as do children by definite stages, "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith"—"the fruit of Spirit"—being the ladder on which the ascent is made.

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