Article January 1, 1921 Issue

The Goad

JAMES L. BRUCE

The word "goad," in its usually accepted sense, refers to a pointed stick used to urge an animal to greater activity. A man, as we seem to know him best, with all his appetites and weaknesses, is but a more refined animal, and often needs more urging than his kin. Although the prod in this second case may not be so groosly material and may even be entirely mental, yet its purpose is the same. Even as a man enters the world of spiritual endeavor he may still be actuated by very material motives, and only as he becomes occupied in purely spiritual attaining is the mere beacon light ahead sufficient to offset what has been, in some form or other, his constant companion. If at this point he should make an inventory of his motives he could well determine how far he has traveled on the road of eternal progress—how much more often he does right because of a worthy motive than he refrains from doing wrong because of the unhappy consequences that will ensue. He begins to understand, too, that the omnipresent God is omniactive and that there is, in fact, no other activity. The fullness of God includes complete activity.

Do we not, however, at this present stage, all seem to need more or less prodding, and principally more? Many would be indolent were it not for their so-called physical necessities. Others would be inactive were it not a matter of pride, pleasure, requirements of a family, and scores of other reasons. Would even our Christian Science textbooks be read so much and studied so faithfully by many were it not for the tenacious beliefs of some material problem?

Then there is another curious phase in this case of human nature, and that is its recognition of its own frailty, so that it often seeks a goad to compel it to right action. That man is the exception who has not said at some time or other, "Just make me do it." Then, too, he may even provide conditions that should he fail in his good intentions, he will be coerced until he returns to the desired standard.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

The Vision of the Practitioner