Article November 22, 1919 Issue

Alertness

LILLIAN P. EDWARDS

A careful study of the life of Christ Jesus shows him to have been ever alert to the still, small voice of Truth. This same alertness to the spiritual vision is necessary for the Christian Scientist's progress. "Watchfulness" and "vigilance" are synonyms for alertness; so then, the Christian Scientist needs to watch his thought to see that when any problem presents itself the material is quickly subordinated to the spiritual, that he is giving power only to that which proceeds from God. In the early experiences of the writer, in working out the demonstration of supply, she found that when obedient to the demands of Truth and first seeking the spiritual idea rather than planning material ways and means, abundance was always realized. When error would argue that the plainness of material ways would bring quicker results, thought was awakened to the fact that since all substance is spiritual it must be gained only through spiritual ideas. By holding to this thought, limitation was eliminated and harmony experienced.

A soldier would not expect to have his rebuke modified because of his excuse that he did not hear the bugle call. It is his business to be listening for commands constantly and to be ever ready to obey. "The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death," says Mrs. Eddy on page 450 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and in order to be a good soldier he, too, must ever be alert to hear the voice of Truth, not having ears for error and its various claims. We are never without a thought of some kind, and the question for each one is: What am I thinking? Is thought dwelling on the spiritual, the real and the eternal, or is it wandering off into the bypaths of sense testimony? When human thought is dwelling in the realization of the power and presence of God, it is alert to the ideas of God and is able to rise instantly to the demands of the moment. "A Christian Scientist never mentally or audibly takes the side of sin, disease, or death. ... He lays his whole weight of thought, tongue, and pen in the divine scale of being—for health and holiness" (Miscellany, p. 146). What a bugle call to alertness! This demand of Principle must be obeyed if we would reach the height of spiritual vision.

The practitioner should ever be alert and on guard against idle words, self-condemnation, pride, material pleasures, self-justification, self-will, and all worldliness; for these would rob him of the glorious realization of the truth by which he is able to heal the sick. The Christian Science nurse feels especial need of alertness in being ever on guard against mental interference, fear, and lethargy. Watching ever, he never voices anything but the truth, whatever the material evidences may seem to be. Surrounded by such alertness, the patient experiences strength, health, and perfect freedom, and he walks forth a new man.

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