Article September 14, 1918 Issue

Human Ability Inadequate

ALICE D. BREWER

A Student of Christian Science, when attempting to solve a problem for another, seemed very much burdened and perplexed in respect to the manner of solution and the outcome of the difficulty. She realized that of herself, of her own human ability, she had no power whatever; and her thought was turned to God for guidance. Then, as if out of a clear sky, a realization of the truth applicable to this problem dawned upon her thought. Again when a sense of confusion and personal responsibility as to the application of the truth, and doubt as to the result, seemed to come, thought was turned to God for guidance. Here the student was led to read from Mrs. Eddy's "Miscellaneous Writings," and on page 22 these words stood out in answer to her need: "All true thoughts revolve in God's orbits: they come from God and return to Him." With the truth brought out by this passage all sense of burden and personal responsibility fell away, for she knew that the truth applicable to this problem had come direct from Mind for her use at this time; that there was nothing personal about it; that she had simply been a recipient of it; and that the result was in the hands of God.

As further proof that she had no responsibility as to the result, the divine promise came as stated in the book of Isaiah: "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." She realized that a true thought coming direct from God needed no human ability to enforce it, but that God, infinite intelligence,—all the power there is,—was its source.

Thought was strengthened by an illustration of the reliability of the rules of mathematics. The student recalled the time when she was in school, how when attempting the solution of a problem in mathematics, perhaps in a test or examination, so often she would find herself in a state of uncertainty as to how she should proceed, and suddenly the rule applicable to the particular problem would come to mind; and how, when the rule had been applied, she would feel no further responsibility as to the answer, knowing that the rule which she had applied belonged to the science of mathematics, and that it could not fail to solve the problem correctly; for it was based upon the principle of mathematics, which is invariable. This experience was a great help to the student, for it showed her that her work was to purify her thought so that she could be a reflection through which the divine power would be made manifest. It also showed her that it was her own sense of personality which was standing in the way and causing confusion. On page 282 of "Miscellaneous Writings" we read: "Remember, it is personality, and the sense of personality in God or in man, that limits man."

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