The writer had long prided herself on being especially resourceful. This quality had been cultivated for years, probably having had its inception in a visit when a young girl to friends who believed greatly in their own resourcefulness. These friends lived on a large farm; they were known as frugal; and it was a matter of satisfaction with them that a purchase was never made if there was anything about the place that could be utilized instead. The expedients that were resorted to were a source of wonderment and admiration; and in the following years every effort was made to develop along the same lines. In every task, if the right article were not at hand, what was called resourcefulness was brought into play, with the result that the task was accomplished, though not always in what might be termed the best way. It was only lately that the writer was enabled to see that the process of training to which she had subjected herself was one of limitation rather than of freedom. The awakening came about in the following manner.

An extension was made to a little cabin in the woods. There was a great sense of limitation to start with. About half the necessary quantity of lumber was ordered, with the thought that in place of roofing the structure with lumber, the cost would be reduced by using canvas. Canvas was procured, but did not prove waterproof; so, bringing into play the prided resourcefulness, it was determined to cover the canvas with roofing paper, while knowing that wooden roofing was the only right one to use. The tar paper was applied, but the canvas permitted it to sag and collect water; and after a while the last state of the roof was worse than the first. By this time more money had been spent than would have laid the wooden roofing in the first instance. The entire structure had ultimately to be rebuilt in the proper manner. In thinking over this incident, it was seen that it was merely a repetition on a larger scale of what had been going on for a long period, and that a great deal of time, and effort, and money had been consumed during the past years in planning and executing what were really makeshifts, under the belief that divine Principle was being demonstrated.

It is necessary here to differentiate clearly between the words "makeshift" and "thrift." Thrift is a commendable characteristic. It means economical management, industry, economy; and we are told by our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, in Article XXIV, Section 5, of the Church Manual, that "God requires wisdom, economy, and brotherly love to characterize all the proceedings of the members of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist." Thrift does not permit of waste, superfluous expenditure, or extravagance. Thrift implies orderliness, wisely directed activity, and conservation. The makeshifts that all the years had been restored to, under the impression that ingenuity and resourcefulness were being shown, were seen to have been but temporary expedients with little or nothing to commend them, restored to, principally, because of a sense of fear and a belief in lack.

True resourcefulness is an entirely different thing. The word "resource" means "that to which one resorts for supply or support;" and this turns one immediately to the only true source of supply, to the Giver of "every good gift and every perfect gift." To be truly resourceful is to have a clear understanding of God and man's relationship to Him, and to be able to demonstrate this knowledge, not by resorting to expedients or makeshifts, but by perfect expression. God, as divine Principle, is the basis and source from which all proceeds; therefore this source is unlimited, without restrictions, boundless, abundant. Man, as God's image, reflects this abundance. Man can make use of every right idea that comes to him. Because of this fact the business of mankind should be to express perfection in the execution of that idea as nearly as it is humanly possible to do so. This sense of perfection should be sought in everything that one does, however important or however inconsequential it may appear to be, whether it is the driving of a nail, the writing of a letter, the conducting of a business, the sewing on of a button, or the management of a vast estate.

Man is ever resourceful in that he has always the ability, divinely bestowed, to meet any situation. Our Leader tells us, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 518), that man's "birthright is dominion, not subjection. He is lord of the belief in earth and heaven, — himself subordinate alone to his Maker." It is only a belief in a power apart from God that would lead us to feel that our own material belief in resources can be depended upon, when reliance upon God, divine Mind, is our only salvation, the only true way of gaining right resourcefulness.

A helpful lesson in true resourcefulness may be gained from a study of the incident of Moses' bringing forth water from the rock. Moses was a resourceful leader. He led the Israelites through situations so trying that human ingenuity was at a standstill; and he did this because he understood God to be the source of his inspiration and power. Only once did he fail in this recognition. The Israelites had been many years on their journey. There had been manifold proofs of God's care and protection; but when they reached the desert of Zin "they gathered themselves together" against Moses and Aaron, because there was no water. In this place, far from material sources of water, with no human aid at hand, surrounded by a rebellious people, there was but one thing to do. Taking Aaron with him, Moses entered into the "secret place of the most High" so to uplift thought by communion with God that he could again realize for his people God's ever-presence and power. Then, in obedience to the divine command, the record states, "Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also." But because Moses ascribed to himself and to Aaron the power for this manifestation, instead of to God, he was denied the privilege of leading his people into the promised land.

How many of us fail to reach some promised land to-day because of our belief in our own human power, or because we fail to give God the glory? Men, God-governed, have everything at their disposal with which to execute any work which it seems right for them to do, since God is always supplying courage, ability, intelligence, patience, abundance. Man, as God's image, is abounding in resources, because man reflects the fullness of divine Mind. A task executed with this understanding cannot be in vain; nor will it have to be done over again. Thus may man's unity with the infinite divine source be proved.