Editorial May 23, 1925 Issue

Preparation

Albert F. Gilmore

The writer of the book of Proverbs was so convinced of the necessity for spiritual preparedness that he wrote in his famous compendium of wisdom, "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord." The preparation which he conceived as finding its rightful expression in the utterances of the tongue came, manifestly, from God. Since its origin was infinite Spirit, from which nothing unspiritual could by any possibility emanate, it must have been purely spiritual in its quality. This preparation would so completely spiritualize thought as rightly to govern the tongue, sometimes characterized as the "unruly" member, avowedly the source of many of the difficulties which mankind seems to encounter.

There is a valuable lesson for Christian Scientists in this pronouncement of the wise man. Spiritual preparation is the only insurance against the untoward circumstances which seem so completely to encompass human experience. But we are not left by an unkind fate to be buffeted hither and yon by every adverse wind that blows. We may set our course and follow it if, utilizing the means at hand, we properly prepare ourselves. It seems, however, that mortals too often are desirous of reaping the rewards of spirituality without taking the steps to gain it. The desire to hold on to materiality with its subtle allurements sometimes militates against the careful daily preparation which would set our mental compass, insuring an harmonious and successful day's experience.

Arguments many arise to keep us from making the preparation necessary in order to enable us happily to meet the exigencies of the day. Another hour of sleep, many duties about the home, urgent demands for assistance from members of the household, love of recreation and play, the love of the morning paper,—all these temptations raise their clamorous voices to keep us from doing that which we know we should do in order to perform properly the tasks that confront us, and scientifically to meet the conditions of life, glorifying God in all our actions. The arguments of error are many and convincing,—that is, from error's standpoint; but viewed from the standpoint of divine Principle, they weigh nothing in the balance with spiritual reality.

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