Article July 11, 1925 Issue

"They also serve who only stand and wait"

HELEN HIXON

Milton's words, "They also serve who only stand and wait," opened up a helpful line of thought to the writer. Quietly to wait often seems the hardest of all the tasks we might be called upon to undertake. Yet how frequently the commands to wait, to be still, to know, occur throughout the pages of the Bible and in the writings of our Leader, Mrs. Eddy!

Is not our unwillingness to wait largely due to a misunderstanding of what it means to wait, or failure to seek an understanding of its meaning? How often so-called mortal mind tries to talk us into believing that there is nothing much we can do, that if only we had an opportunity to serve in larger ways, to be a practitioner, a church officer, a Reader, to be associated with the conduct of the activities of The Mother Church, oh, how we should work, and what inspiration we should have! But would we? The test of what we would do were we placed in posts of seemingly greater responsibility and opportunity for service is just what we are doing now; just what use we are making of the opportunities at hand. A Christian Science lecturer said not long ago that the greatest need of our Cause is that each Christian Scientist shall do his work to the very best of his ability right where he is.

To wait does not mean to sit idly by with folded hands. "Having done all, to stand," perhaps in the midst of arguments of discouragement, lack, grief, or illness, is sometimes harder than plunging into battle with mortal weapons might seem to be. But it is only as we stand firmly and steadfastly for what we know is right, waiting patiently on the Lord, that we shall win the victory.

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