Article March 2, 1918 Issue

The Idler

REV. James J. ROME

Among the types of human nature referred to by Mrs. Eddy in her Message to The Mother Church for 1900, is that of "the idler." It is hardly to be expected that anyone would have any particular ambition to be considered as belonging to this class, and few there are who would care to appropriate the appellation. Upon careful consideration, however, it will be discovered that the term may be applied more generally than might be supposed.

In one sense, of course, the term is entirely relative. Those regarded as idlers from one standpoint might not be so considered from another point of view. By the man engrossed in business, for instance, who considers the making of money the acme of human endeavor, anyone who devotes his time to the pursuit of art or pleasure might be regarded as an idler. Nevertheless, devotion to the accomplishment of either one of these may require as much concentration of thought and applied energy as might be demanded in the most strenuous business life. Again, to the day laborer or artisan the life of the student or author might seem like idleness, whereas it is really a higher form of so-called human activity. Generally speaking, therefore, only that which is considered tributary to the accomplishment of whatever has been decided upon as the important issue in life is regarded as useful activity. All else is considered idleness, whether it be sheer indolence or effort spent in other directions.

It is very evident, of course, that all activity is primarily mental. Every material manifestation of action, every mechanical operation must be preceded by mental action, and is but the outward expression thereof; but, on the other hand, all mental action is not necessarily made manifest by an external or physical activity. Physical stillness does not indicate mental vacuity, or even torpor; indeed physical agitation is more likely to hinder than to help the operation of right thinking. On page 93 of "Retrospection and Introspection" Mrs. Eddy writes, "The best spiritual type of Christly method for uplifting human thought and imparting divine Truth, is stationary power, stillness, and strength."

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