Editorial January 2, 1915 Issue

"Redeeming the time"

Archibald McLellan

The prudent business man at the close of the year takes account of stock, figures up his profit or loss, and lays his plans for the future. So, too, the wise Christian Scientist takes this time to recall our Leader's characterization of the new year as "a prophecy and promise ... redolent with grief and gratitude," and her further statement that "time past and time present, both, may pain us, but time improved is eloquent in God's praise" (Pulpit and Press, p. 1). It is a time frankly to recall the past and face the balance-sheet, then to pray as did David, "Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness ... make thy way straight before my face," resolving that the year to come shall show the balance on the right side—that the time given us has been "improved."

In commencing a new calendar year, however, many are either cast down with the discouragement of unfulfilled hopes and plans of the year just closed, or else overstimulated by the expected fulfilment of new hopes and plans during the year to come. The wise man will give power to neither of these states of mind, but will be calm in the face of those circumstances which have made for discouragement in the past, and equally calm in entering upon the future. The question with him will not be whether his desires are to be fulfilled, but whether he is ready to do that which may rightly be required of him; in other words, he will reverentially say with the Master, "Not my will, but thine, be done."

This does not mean that we give ourselves up to be governed by a blind fatalism, but rather realize, as Christian Science teaches, that God, infinite Mind, is All and governs all, and that we must not depend on the weakness of mortal mind and material desires for inspiration or achievement. When Jesus said, "I can of mine own self do nothing," it was in no sense an admission of helplessness. On the contrary, he knew himself to be endowed with all the strength and power of the Father; he realized the omnipotence of God, and the consequent utter futility of mortal mind and its methods, and declared himself ready to be guided and governed by God alone. Jesus knew that hatred of the truth would assail him, and that to the will of the flesh it would seem to triumph; but he also knew that "success in error is defeat in Truth" (Science and Health, p. 239), and was unmoved by the seeming power of evil. He met every phase of temptation and evil in the firm conviction that good is the only reality; and this must be the attitude of all who would follow in his footsteps.

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