A Little Christian Scientist was experiencing his first day at school. At home, the mother was finding it difficult to go about the usual tasks without a feeling of restlessness. The house seemed very empty, and three o'clock very far away! At last, as the clock struck two, the mother started out for the schoolhouse, telling herself that it was as well to be in "good time." She had yet to perceive what "good time" really is!

Shortly after her arrival, the little class came trooping out of the building. But it was only a recess time. As the mother saw the shining face of her little son, she rushed forward, expecting a veritable outburst of joy on his part over seeing his mother again. Instead, the little fellow drew back, and a shade seemed to pass over his face. Looking steadily at his mother, he said quaintly, but very firmly: "What brings you here? Mother, this isn't your place until three o'clock." At first the remark was dismissed as just surprising; but next day, when the mother found herself confronted with the same argument of restlessness, the truth of her son's utterance stood out as a clear, healing statement.

Was the question not in a degree similar to the one propounded centuries ago to those who discontinued their journey in order to return to Jerusalem in search of the child Jesus, and met with the rebuke, "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" The recognition on the part of Jesus that he must be about his Father's business probably carried with it also the realization that those who sought him should be filling their own places and continuing their own lines of endeavor. Their failure to understand his words was due to their inability to perceive the true idea of child and the right concept of relationship. Knowing that God was his Father, and acknowledging only his Father's guidance, Jesus felt no weight of human relationship. Had his earthly parents seen the true sense of relationship as clearly, they would have left him free to be about his Father's business, and neither his work nor their journey would have been interrupted.

The mother of the little schoolboy pondered her lesson and saw clearly that her son's absence should not leave a vacuum in her thought or her home, but only bring about a change of activity and occupation. She realized that she must use every moment in being about her Father's business, and that only a false sense could cause her thought to rest continuously upon the human child. She gratefully acknowledged the wisdom of the little fellow's remark, and resolved that in the future she would suit her actions to the proper time.

A thoughtful study of the life of Christ Jesus shows us that he invariably demonstrated the harmony of time and place. We do not find him tarrying too long here, then rushing feverishly there, to another place, and arriving too late to be of service. Neither do we find him arriving ahead of time, and having to sit down to wait until he should be needed. In John's gospel we read that Jesus allowed two days to elapse before he went to Lazarus. This was, however, no lack of wisdom, but the manifestation of divine Love. He held himself in such perfect submission to divine Principle that he always found the location and the occasion in perfect adjustment. When he needed the tribute money, the fish and the coin were at hand; when it was time to make his entrance into Jerusalem, the colt was standing ready to carry him; when the night had arrived for the last supper with his disciples, the upper room was already prepared; and when the time came for the culmination of his glorious ministry, he said simply, "Father, the hour is come."

Mrs. Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 117): "According to my calendar, God's time and mortals' differ. The neophyte is inclined to be too fast or too slow." And a little farther on she says: "God is the fountain of light, and He illumines one's way when one is obedient. The disobedient make their moves before God makes His, or make them too late to follow Him. Be sure that God directs your way; then, hasten to follow under every circumstance." That Mrs. Eddy herself endeavored always to listen for divine direction and then to obey it implicitly, we have ample proof; and the results of this obedience are a source of never failing inspiration.

Constant obedience to divine Principle will leave us no wasted moments, no unnecessary waiting, no fruitless quests. If we believe that "all things work together for good to them that love God," surely we must see also that to love Him is to obey Him, to follow His guidance, and to move as He directs. A shadow moves with the object which casts it; so, as God's reflection, man moves only in accordance with Him. All other supposed activity is unreal and unproductive.

We read in Ecclesiastes, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven;" and there follows a detailed explanation of this statement. Besides these excellent references as to time, we may well consider also the right time to telephone a friend, the time when it will be convenient for him to listen; the time to speak of Christian Science; the time to let the silent influence of right living do its blessed work; the time to go forward; and the time to stand still and wait upon God. There is, in fact, a right time for all things, and it is God's time. It comes to pass in our experience in proportion to our obedience to His divine law.

Knowing this, we shall not let any suggestion of human will, anxiety, idleness, or curiosity divert us from our true, God-guided activities. We shall not let a false sense of relationship persuade us out of our daily path of duty and service, and hamper our own and another's usefulness. We shall endeavor to dwell in that perfect universe of Mind in which each individual man is doing the right thing at the right time, without confusion, hurry, lack, or inactivity. That universe exists here and now; and each of us has his part in making it visible to all mankind.