Article August 21, 1926 Issue

Helpful Thinking

MARY T. TATUM

On page 514 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy we read, "In the figurative transmission from the divine thought to the human, diligence, promptness, and perseverance are likened to 'the cattle upon a thousand hills.'" To a young student of Christian Science, trying to apply what was understood of it to daily problems, the three words "diligence, promptness, and perseverance" recurred many times; and it was found that these characteristics were becoming more evident in daily work. Being led in this way to ponder the paragraph in which they occur, it was found to reveal many beautiful and helpful thoughts; as, indeed, each sentence of Mrs. Eddy's inspired writings must do, when prayerfully studied.

"Diligence, promptness, and perseverance" may at first present a picture of unpleasant duties and hardships to be met and mastered, even, perhaps seeming to involve efforts of the human will. But how different these qualities appear when viewed in the light of Christian Science, which, Mrs. Eddy tells us on page 445 of Science and Health, "silences human will, quiets fear with Truth and Love, and illustrates the unlabored motion of the divine energy in healing the sick." For these qualities of God are man's by reflection.

Let us consider the results of applying these qualities to our thoughts as well as to our actions. One definition of "diligence" is "careful attention." We should, then, give careful attention to our thoughts. Are we accepting only those thoughts which are good, and thereby bringing good into our experience? How often we find that through carelessness we entertain some of the horde of erroneous or even malicious thoughts which vigilance and unselfed love would detect and resist. Or, perhaps, the cares and pleasures of material living have for a period been given precedence. If so, unless we diligently root out the offending thoughts, inharmony is bound to result.

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