Article August 12, 1922 Issue

Pressing Forward

ANNA E. HERZOG

One day a Christian Scientist heard a younger student say, "I am not free from the problem as yet, but I will plod on." In thinking the matter over the older Scientist decided that the word "plod" revealed the very mental attitude which accounted for the student's seemingly slow progress. Is not that attitude, although not always expressed, many times the reason for the joyless efforts of mankind? Paul knew a better way. He said, "Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." These words give a sense of joyful progress, a sense that one dictionary gives of the word "press": "To advance with eagerness."

One who intentionally or resignedly plods is certainly not meeting "every adverse circumstance as its master," as Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 419). We may be sure that the plowman who "homeward plods his weary way," has forgotten that glorious verse in Isaiah, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." No plodding there! The active, trusting, serving quality of thought, which is true waiting, true patience, which is resignation to good, not to evil, lifts thinking out of weariness and discouragement.

Pressing forward is not forcing forward. Indeed, forcing with human will does not carry us forward; but pressing forward, as Paul evidently meant it, is listening for and relying on the strength and wisdom of God, divine Mind, and then acting thereon. Paul's history as a Christian illustrates in marked degree this continuous looking to divine Mind for guidance, and prompt and courageous action when the guidance came. Through persecution and hatred, through poverty and sickness, he moved triumphantly on, and he helped to accomplish what he desired,—the healing of sickness, the raising of the dead, and the establishment of Christianity in the hearts of men. He did his great work for the advancement of the world; and each of us may make our offices, homes, and schoolrooms, places of success, peace, and joyous growth, if we watch our thinking to see that we are keeping our God-given mental sense of dominion over circumstances, and not plodding under a belief that circumstances can master us. What if error does seem real to-day? It is but a dream; and dreams always end. Therefore, let us press on to the end. In God's reality, error is not true to-day.

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