Article October 30, 1920 Issue

Work

FOLLETTE BROTHERTON

Probably there is not a word that is more misrepresented or less understood than the word "work," and more than likely it is most frequently used as a verb—I work, you work, he works, et cetera. Work is a noun as well as a verb, and, when understood, stands for and expresses the beautiful creation of God. Work stands for and expresses continuous activity directed to an ideal. Work does not stand for or express toil and struggle; on the contrary toil and struggle express ignorance of work. As the ideal is always beautiful and joyous, the activity or work leading to the realization or demonstration of the ideal is equally beautiful and joyous. That which is ideal expresses joy and freedom, and that which is not ideal expresses ignorance of the ideal, heaviness, bondage, and servitude; so when work brings a sense of heaviness, of bondage, and of servitude, it means that there is ignorance of the truth of work and the truth of the ideal. There is need then to know the truth.

An ideal is not a vague, unknown something; it is a standard of perfection and is never formulated as that which is finite or limited. It stands for the highest standard of excellence, and is always conceived of as that which is boundless, unlimited, infinite. Work, the activity expressing this infinite, unfettered standard of excellence, cannot be taken in a finite or limited sense, but must be understood as the excellent standard of activity which the ideal brings; and as the ideal is joyous and free, activity or work gives only the greatest realization of joy and freedom. Work is not confining; on the contrary work is liberating activity that leads out of bondage and brings the realization of freedom.

There is just one action, the action of God; therefore there is just one work, the work of God. Christian Science consistently proves that there is one God, one creator. As Mrs. Eddy says, "All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all" (Science and Health, p. 468). Work is the creation, the manifestation, the emanation of God, and as such it is inseparable from Him. Work is not a creation of man, for there is just one creator; and as the creation of God work is the spiritual idea of God, known by God and by man as that which God created and ended. Man, then, does not struggle with work but rests with God in the finished work or action of God.

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