Article March 14, 1925 Issue

"Stand porter"

NELLIE LOWTHER

THE text, "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness," opened up a train of thought to the writer of much practical utility in everyday life. How often one has agreed, theoretically, with the Psalmist, thinking that if it were possible for his poetical words to be translated into experience, who of us, seeking the truth, would not gladly take the position of "a doorkeeper in the house of my God" in preference to dwelling "in the tents of wickedness"! How could one hesitate to choose the safety, the peace, the happiness of the Father's house, in whatever position, rather than the alternative of "the tents of wickedness"!

Just at that point Mrs. Eddy's words of admonition, promise, and cheer in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 392) followed as a natural sequence: "Stand porter at the door of thought." There came an instant realization that the Psalmist's words were not mere poetic imagery, but were of very practical import: that we all have the opportunity each day to be doorkeepers,—to guard our thoughts that no undesirable, unbidden guest enter our mental home; and that to be faithful we must never desert our post, for troops of guests—thoughts—are forever knocking at the door of our consciousness for admittance. Idle thoughts block the way of the useful, helpful ones; thoughts of prejudice or resentment shut out thoughts of love; doubt and discouragement take up the place of faith and hope; in short, whether we like to admit it or not, we are choosing to dwell "in the tents of wickedness" when we allow the entrance of any erroneous thought into our consciousness.

If, on the contrary, we "hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true" (Science and Health, p. 261), and think of those things of which Paul speaks when he tells us, "If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think of these things," which are "honest, ... just, ... pure, ... lovely, ... of good report," we are going far towards establishing in truth the temple or body "whose builder and maker is God."

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