Article September 27, 1924 Issue

Overcoming Procrastination

MARJORIE N. BUFFUM

Of all the tendencies of the so-called human mind one of the most unfortunate is the habit of procrastination, which is akin to the unintelligent, ostrich-like hiding of the head of the one who would proclaim evil to be overcome by merely shutting the eyes to it. But we read in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy (p. 95), "Error of any kind cannot hide from the law of God."

A dictionary defines procrastination as "putting off from day to day." It is therefore contrary to the dictum of the Bible. "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation," according to Paul in his second epistle to the Corinthians. And we never find Jesus putting off his healing or teaching work. The instant the demand was made, it was answered by that unlimited supply of love and power of which he was ever conscious. Putting off implies that we may have the ability to meet a duty or a demand in the future which we have not to-day; or that more of God's presence and power will be available in the future than to-day. And yet we are told that God is ever present!

The insidious thought of putting off crept into the churches as the teachings of Jesus became more and more overlaid with creed and ritual. Heaven began to be thought of as a place afar off; and as it was believed that Jesus had atoned for the sins of the world, individual effort, though perhaps still required, became feeble and intermittent. The belief in the saving of a few while the rest were lost, left humanity in a condition of puzzled inertia and fear. This doctrine was so utterly hopeless that it could not possibly continue.

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