Article January 21, 1922 Issue

Talent

RONALD B. CLIFTON

Many people have been awakened through the understanding of God's law to some particular talent which they did not previously realize they possessed. This should not seem strange, as it becomes clear through the reading and study of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy that man is created for the manifestation of God, divine Mind, in individual characteristics, all of which reflect Life, Truth, and Love, and this purpose is revealed to the individual as the mist of mortal beliefs is dissolved through spiritual understanding. Then he realizes that man never has been and can never actually be absent from his right place in divine Mind. This is made clear by Paul in the saying, "In him we live, and move, and have our being."

After this awakening, however, many may allow human planning and wrong ambitions to prevent the full realization of the benefits of this talent. The full expression of God's idea is never touched, however, by any human concept of how a problem should be worked out. After striving vainly with discouragement, doubt, and ingratitude against the harmonious operation of Principle, people must again turn to God with more meekness, and be willing to let divine Love guide. When discouraged and believing that some irresistible evil power, usually called "bad luck," is keeping one's opportunity from one, it is wise to stop and consider what opportunity is, when examined in the light of Christian Science.

The only real opportunity there is or can be is the privilege of serving God in the way of His appointing. Since man was created for the infinite, divine purpose, it is evident that this purpose or place was created simultaneously with man and is as eternal and unchangeable as the creator; so man must be inseparable from his harmonious place in the universe. Since God is unchanging, His reflection, man, is changeless, and God's intention for His spiritual idea, or spiritual creation, never varies, but is eternal. Does it not follow logically that God is man's opportunity? Therefore, as God is ever present, the all of man's opportunity is ever present, is at hand here and now, for there can be no separation between man and God. There can be no real cause for doubt or ingratitude, for God is the only substance, infinite and unlimited, and is reflected always by man, His likeness. If this sometimes seems not to be true it is because of the belief that man can be separated from God. We read in the psalms: "If I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." In fact, the whole of the one hundred and thirty-ninth psalm states undeniably the omnipresence of the all-knowing God.

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