Article May 29, 1920 Issue

"Not my will, but thine"

FRANK BARNDOLLAR

Among the many things to be learned through the study of Christian Science is the true or spiritual sense of activity. We have so long listened to the interpretation of this quality by the so-called mortal mind, that it often seems that activity is a manifestation of physical exertion.

The Scriptures, however, clearly state that man was created by God, or Spirit; hence his manifestation must be of a spiritual nature and not of a material. He, then, who is truly active is giving evidence of such activity through the demonstration of the spiritual qualities of joy, happiness, harmony, and charitableness, and the result of this demonstration is healing and freedom from contrary and false conditions of inharmony, unhappiness, and uncharitableness. True activity, then, is essentially that perpetual and unerring desire to know and experience the perfect love of God and man—that infinite expression of eternal harmony wherein man's at-one-ment with his Father in heaven is clearly demonstrated. From this understanding of activity we gain also a clearer concept as to the purpose of God's creation, including man. It becomes quite evident that man as God's creation has a specific duty; that this duty is to bear witness to the eternal fact that God is. Through the demonstration of happiness, charitableness, and brotherly love we must perform this important mission.

To his mother's question, "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing," the child Jesus when found by his mother in the temple at Jerusalem made answer, "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" Again on the Mount of Olives, just before his betrayal, when the material senses were no doubt screaming to be heard, when thoughts of physical resistance were evidently uppermost in the minds of his disciples, as evidenced by the action of Peter, the great Way-shower calmly and firmly demonstrated true activity. When by resorting to the physical he could have so easily escaped this trial, he meekly stood his ground, realizing to its fullest import his mission. His appeal, as recorded in Luke, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done," together with that of the child in the temple, voiced accurately that infinite and absolute sense of true activity which is caused wholly by God and is entirely apart from any material beliefs. It is thus for all to follow his example, by being actively about the Father's business, active in knowing that God's will is always joyously good.

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