Article February 17, 1923 Issue

Success

JOHN WADDINGTON

MOST people will agree that success comes as a result of doing something correctly. Whatever the nature of the work may be,—the building of a bridge, the improvement of a transportation system, the teaching of a class, or the administration of a province,—nothing but right application of fundamental truth will lead to sound and secure achievement. The problem in each variation of work, surely then, begins with the application to the immediate needs of the situation of an acknowledged law. The one who begins his work by first making sure that he is approaching his problem from a right viewpoint, and who faithfully and steadfastly refuses to be drawn into any side issues or bypaths away from the truth of his standard, however tempting or alluring may be the prospect, such a one will undoubtedly reap the reward of his constancy. His trust and faith will be reflected in his work.

Indeed, there can be no real success that is not founded upon the laws of Truth and justice. Anything less than obedience to this law of Truth will render the final result unsatisfactory. Every problem which arises in human affairs, and which appears to be in need of adjustment, is, in a scientific sense, in need of healing. This is no new thought which has but just appeared, for it has long been customary to speak of a business as being in a healthy or an unhealthy condition. Therefore, it was with deep spiritual insight that Mrs. Eddy wrote in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 167), "Only through radical reliance on Truth can scientific healing power be realized."

Mortals may be, in a worldly sense, rich, prosperous, successful, eminent; but unless their position has been founded on right thinking and right living, their success will neither be permanent nor make them happy. Unless, in other words, they have sought "first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," their efforts will ultimately avail them nothing. Mrs. Eddy expresses this inversely (Science and Health, p. 239) when she writes, "Let it be understood that success in error is defeat in Truth," It is obvious that only the true can endure. Why, then, does one content himself with vanities, whether of pursuit or of position? Yet there comes a period in the lives of most of us when we ask ourselves, What are we building on? or, What is the goal of our endeavors? The sincerity with which we face these questions may have a far-reaching effect on our future, and on our immediate happiness. It may some day be more readily acknowledged that technical qualifications, business acumen, or scholarly attainments may be of less value in achieving success, even in the workaday world, than the possession of a spiritualized outlook.

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