Article September 15, 1917 Issue

Activity

JOHN M. DEAN

Activity as applied to work in Christian Science is a much misunderstood term, and this because of its purely spiritual nature. Spiritual activity is in no way related to hurry or worry, neither is it even remotely dependent upon physical, mental, or verbal gymnastics ; hence a Christian Science treatment should partake of none of these qualities. Right mental effort is never labored or strenuous, and we have the Scriptural promise, "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." Thus it follows that he who is busiest to the human sense of things, may be accomplishing far less than he who manifests the quiet assurance which comes from conscious spiritual power.

In the quaint phraseology which she sometimes employed, Mrs. Eddy tells us, "Rushing around smartly is no proof of accomplishing much" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 230); and this is true on every plane of thinking. When confronted by a condition which needs to be remedied, can we improve matters by becoming excited, and does not excitement under such conditions indicate doubt of our ability to cope with threatened danger? It is always well to be calm, and the opposite belief, which sometimes asserts itself even with those whose equanimity is usually unruffled, needs to be met and mastered before we can do our best work.

It must also be plain that undue hurry indicates a belief that there is a reality to be grappled with, and that something depends upon our personal efforts. This attitude weakens one's position, for error once given the semblance of reality becomes just as real as we make it, and there can be no perfect healing until the healer's own concept is rectified. If we even remotely dignify error as an entity with power to think and to assert itself, it at once assumes for us a reality to which it has no legitimate claim. On the other hand, if we reverse this thought, and calmly and understandingly take an immovable stand on the allness of good and the nothingness of evil, whether the error be manifested as headache or cancer, the healing is accomplished. Our warfare is "not against flesh and blood," and when we are induced to believe that a powerful, tangible error needs to be overcome, then we are perforce fighting "as one that beateth the air."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Activity

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access