Article April 13, 1918 Issue

The Highest Decision

MARY EDVINA WALKER

It has been said that we are constantly at some point of decision. That is to say, according to Webster's definition of the word judge (which bears important relation to the word decision), we are constantly called upon "to hear and determine, ... to compare facts or ideas, and perceive their relations and attributes, and thus distinguish truth from falsehood; to exercise the judgment." At best, so-called mortal consciousness, a paradoxical term, finds itself unequal to the task of fulfilling the demands of the definition quoted, for the ancient question "What is truth?" remains unanswered as far as this consciousness is concerned.

As spiritual understanding unfolds and man's dominion over all forms of error becomes apparent, it will be found that a Christianly scientific decision must always include three parts, which may be said to correspond, in their consecutive address to thought, to the "first lessons" of the children in the Christian Science Sunday school. In Section 3 of Article XX of the Manual these are given as follows: "The Ten Commandments (Exodus, 20:3–17), the Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6:9–13), and its Spiritual Interpretation by Mary Baker Eddy, Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3–12)."

Whatever the problem before us, to be mentally awake is to hear the summons, the clear, strong warning, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord." This leads us to consider the commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," and to perceive which one of the details enumerated throughout the remaining nine of the Ten Commandments, for our safeguarding, is calling upon us to test our loyalty to the First Commandment. Alert to gird itself, spiritual-mindedness turns to the Father, infinite Mind, in prayer, joyously laying hold of the knowledge of God's allness and ever presence, and of man's place and duty in His creation as infinite idea, in very truth beholding the face of the Father which is in heaven.

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