If

When one gives the matter a bit of thought it becomes evident that the general trend of mortal thought lies along the "if" road. "If it rains we cannot go;" "If I do not get there first I shall not obtain the position I am seeking;" "If there is money enough I can have the things I need." Almost endlessly the little limiting part of speech shows our lack of faith in Principle. We make conditions for ourselves every minute of the day by declaring the way to lie along the way of indefiniteness. Is the way indefinite? Mrs. Eddy tells us in Science and Health (p. 295), "God creates and governs the universe, including man."

The children of Israel proved over and over again that God is only good and that only by utter dependence on God did they progress. Christ Jesus, with infinite patience, taught his disciples over and over that the only reality was Spirit, God. In the simplest, most telling fashion, in the way best fitted to impress their minds, he illustrated the point he desired to make. The sheep and the Shepherd, the story of the talents, the tares and the wheat, were stories taken from the life about him and were clear to the people gathered about him. Why do not we of the modern day turn for guidance to Principle in all the affairs of life? Millions of dollars were spent in a campaign for choosing a President of the United States. What did we hear voiced as necessary for the making of a successful President and party? "Better times; we need a change; tariff revision may tend to lower prices"—everything but the real requisite for success in anything, the understanding of God, good. Again the little word "if." If such and such a party comes into control we shall have more prosperity. What is prosperity? Is it greater wealth to squander on material living or is it greater dependence on the one divine intelligence that directs and controls, the only real Governor, after all? Man is the sheep and Principle is the Shepherd. Whether we will listen depends on us alone. The Bible tells us that "God is no respecter of persons," yet the same old cry echoes all down the ages, through each generation of mortals. "This man or that woman has had a better chance than I." "See the talents possessed by my neighbor. Why was I not equally blessed?" Why indeed? Jesus said, "O ye of little faith." Telling the story of the stewards, he showed conclusively that to the man of understanding, the man who could realize that only good comes from God, therefore nothing else has any foundation, the talent was developed and added to. From the "if" man was taken away that which he thought he had.

The tares of our daily life are the "ifs," the daily doubtings, hates, and material loves, ambitions, schemes, and plans. The rich man went away sorrowful, because he listened to the "if" of human investment. The glitter of gold had obscured the spiritual vision and he could not give up the god of greed for God, good. The man in business at the present time sees great confusion; strikes, holdups, general mismanagement in all directions. A new administration of government, he claims, is always a risk; new people in office wish to try out new, impractical ideas, or succumb to temptations in many directions. Again this is the belief in false gods, in minds many instead of in the one Mind supreme in the universe of His making. Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Leader of Christian Science, says in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 3): "How empty are our conceptions of Deity! We admit theoretically that God is good, omnipotent, omnipresent, infinite, and then we try to give information to this infinite Mind." Is not this the truth about our erring, mortal dream of life? Reformers struggle and plan and preach and take up contributions, when what is needed is an understanding that God is all and that only by unseeing something which God never has seen can real reform come.