Article October 25, 1924 Issue

Working or Brooding, Which?

EDITH BAILEY

To the awakened consciousness of the earnest student of Christian Science there are constantly appearing errors that must be destroyed, or problems that must be solved. Happy is the one who turns unreservedly to Truth to prove the nothingness of error, and who solves his problems through an abiding faith in and a clear understanding of the power and presence of the infinite, supreme, all-loving God, who is "a very present help in trouble." To one student, when problems to be met were so numerous as to seem almost overwhelming, there came, as light breaking through a leaden sky, a clear realization of the difference between working on a problem and brooding over it.

There is to-day, perhaps, no belief more universal than that of business gloom and business failure. For the sake of those held in bondage by such a belief, let us see just what the difference is between solving a problem and brooding over it. If one is brooding over a problem, his first thoughts in the morning are those of discouragement, worry, and fear,—thoughts which he probably took with him when he retired, and dreamed of through the night. All day long he meditates upon his obligations, his expenses, yesterday's bad business; and he looks this way and that for some plan—always of human outlining—whereby he may better conditions. He fails to see that the healing of a sick business must take place exactly where the healing of all sickness takes place, namely, in his own thinking. He may firmly believe in the wonderful healing power of Christian Science; but unless he is hourly proving it by being obedient to the loving command, "Meet every adverse circumstance as its master," which our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has given us on page 419 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," he is allowing the problem to master him; and instead of working it out, he is merely brooding over it. So-called mortal mind in its endeavor to keep him under bondage will suggest this person or that, this condition or that, as responsible for his present plight; in which case, he is looking to matter or persons as cause or effect, and is blind to the truth that "all substance, intelligence, wisdom, being, immortality, cause, and effect belong to God" (Science and Health, p. 275). Unless he proves the truth of that statement in some measure, his problem will not be solved.

Now let us look at the student who does his Science work when confronted with a similar problem. To him the appearance of a difficulty is the presentation of an opportunity,—an opportunity to prove the truth. He will begin his day with careful study and earnest prayer, and go to business equipped and ready to prove man's sonship with God, yea, man's heirship to the very kingdom of God. At every suggestion of discouragement, worry, fear, gloom, lack, he will deny the lie and rejoice that he can know it is a lie. He will constantly declare for the truth of the spiritual nature of supply. He will also remember the Master's declaration, "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom," and know that all the Father hath is his now,—this very moment; that it ever has been his; and that there is no power which can rob him of or blind him to the abundance God so graciously bestows on each and all of His children. If he holds unswervingly to the truth, being continuously grateful for all good, and joyfully expresses each bit of good as it is revealed to him, supply will be manifested just as surely as the applying of a rule in mathematics to a given problem solves that problem, not sometimes, but each and every time.

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