Editorial August 11, 1917 Issue

Making Excuses

William D. McCrackan

The dilatory type of mind becomes expert in making excuses. It is willing to expend as much time and labor in contriving reasons for evading right action as would be necessary to put right action into operation. Therefore the saying has arisen among the worldly wise, If you want something done, ask the busy man to do it. The evil mental manipulator, who believes he is well acquainted with the idiosyncrasies of the human mind, finds the excuse-making habit ready made in minds many. When the Christian Scientist hears the unmistakable "still small voice" of inspiration calling for action, it is the custom of this supposititious serpent mind to argue delay through the avenues of selfishness, conceit, indolence, apprehension, and the like. The golden moment passes, the call remains unanswered, and humanity continues to suffer instead of being saved and rejoicing.

In national crises the same supposititious serpent mind, fresh from lying to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, winds its way among the legislative, administrative, and judicial minds many of human government, and plants the seeds of suggestion from which come broods of excuses. Individuals once loved for their humanitarianism are then heard to use arguments which would prolong war. Worshipers of system at the expense of spiritual understanding search for minute flaws while instantaneous action is imperative. The pitiful aspect of this making of national excuses is that its victims are unaware of the occult influence which seeks to turn them into traitors and place in their hands the "thirty pieces of silver." Hence arise poor governments in which everybody's business is nobody's business, poor railroads, poor bridges and highways extravagantly paid for, food supplies monopolized, and strikes designed to create internal disorders so that nations may not fulfil their external obligations to liberty and justice. Concerning those who oppose the necessary uncovering of these secret manipulations Mrs. Eddy writes on page 211 of Miscellany: "They are sticklers for a false, convenient peace, straining at gnats and swallowing camels. The unseen wrong to individuals and society they are too cowardly, too ignorant, or too wicked to uncover, and excuse themselves by denying that this evil exists."

The homely motto "Do it now," and the no less serviceable reminder "God first," are valuable antidotes for the poison and paralysis of procrastination. It is only distrust of God which induces humanity to excuse its own limitations. An unclouded perception of God's power and of man's relationship to Him saves humanity from denying the truth of the First Commandment and becoming disobedient. This habit of making excuses leads to the greatest insecurity, for the human recalcitrant keeps himself outside the compassionate watchfulness of divine protection.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

The War Relief Fund