Article December 24, 1921 Issue

Not Influencing Another's Decisions

H. K. RICHARDSON

Not to try intellectually to control the thinking and decisions of those around one may seem a great difficulty with those especially who have been many years in the teaching profession. This failing is most insidious in its action and may seem hard to recognize by one's own efforts. A study of Christian Science soon reveals to us the fact that each one is the manager of his own destiny and must stand or fall according as he puts into practice his understanding of Principle. This means that each one must be free and unfettered in his thinking. Three quotations, together with their metaphysical interpretations, have been of great help in the struggle to overcome this fault: Many centuries ago an old Chinese sage said, "Each blade of grass has its own dew to nourish it." This saying when metaphysically interpreted reminds us that each one has his source of supply by which his individual needs, spiritual and material, are met.

Twenty centuries ago Jesus said, "If ye continue in my word . . . ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Here is a plain statement that if we have in us the mind that was in Christ Jesus, the divine Word, we shall have understanding and know the truth and thus be enabled to shape our course rightly. In all justice we must know that this applies to the other fellow and be certain that he has the same claim to divine guidance for his course as we have.

In the Church Manual, under "A Rule for Motives and Acts" (Art. VIII, Sect. 1), Mrs. Eddy says: "The members of this Church should daily watch and pray to be delivered from all evil, from prophesying, judging, condemning, counseling, influencing or being influenced erroneously." In these words Mrs. Eddy has summed up all the wisdom contained in the other quotations and in addition has given us an explicit rule to govern our own lives and allow others to govern theirs. Sometimes it is hard when explaining Christian Science to friends to state the truth alone and let them apply it to their own particular problem without undue influence, but such is the clear demand of this Science.

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