Article August 4, 1923 Issue

Why Plan?

HARRIET KATE HELMAN GRAY

The desire to plan ahead and outline for the future is one that comes to many. A certain type of thinker allows a great deal of his thought to be occupied in this manner. He outlines a course of action, not only for himself, but for all upon whom his thoughts rest, from the chief executive of the nation to his business associates, friends, neighbors, and family. The Apostle James was surely addressing himself to this tendency of the so-called human mind when he wrote, "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain. . . . For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."

Each one must learn to watch for this tendency to plan in his own consciousness which says, To-morrow we will, instead of, The Lord willing we shall. The closer the tie of relationship, the more planning would often seem necessary. This is especially noticeable in the care of young children. During the child's infancy, the parent has to consider its food, clothing, and various activities; and unless this necessary attention is given with humility and trust in divine guidance, the parent is apt to drift into a state of chronic planning which results finally in a state of mental misery. To say that the planner is not happy is putting it mildly; for if one of his plans is realized, the realization brings him no rest. He only goes on to the making of fresh plans and fretting to get them executed. This mental habit is consistent neither with the teachings of Christian Science nor with those of any other Christian faith.

Outlining is entirely inconsistent with that childlike faith expressed in Proverbs, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Long before the Christian era, those who had a true concept of God sought and found His guidance in their daily problems. Noah, safe in the ark; Abraham, with his angel-visitors; Moses, by the flaming bush; Samuel, answering God's voice; the three wise men guided by a star,—these are only a few of many examples of the manner in which the ever present divine Mind makes known His plans to men. Mary Baker Eddy, Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, considered any sort of officious thinking for another without his consent to be mental malpractice, and recognized mental trespass as just as serious an offense against the rights of man as the act of trespass upon the real or personal property of another. She also deemed it an infraction of the Golden Rule, whereby we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Might we not ask ourselves these questions: Am I trying to stand in the place of the pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night? Does God in His infinite wisdom guide me? Yes! Then does He not guide others also? If we answer these questions honestly, we shall see the desirability of giving up the human planning habit.

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