Article August 21, 1926 Issue

"In this place"

MILDRED M. DAVENPORT

FREQUENTLY one hears it said, and is sometimes tempted to accept the saying as his own, "If I were just differently situated,—if I only had a more congenial place to live, or a better place to work,—I am sure I would progress more rapidly;" or, "How can I be happy or do my best work in this place which I dislike?" or, "How can I be healthy in a climate which depresses me?" The Christian Scientist will recognize these erroneous suggestions as the effort of so-called mortal mind to excuse its own lack of accomplishment of good, by placing the responsibility upon something outside of itself; and in this instance it would seek to shift the responsibility to what it calls "place."

What is place? Is it a geographical location or a material environment? Is there more of omnipresent divine Principle in one so-called place than in another? The answer to these questions may be found in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. On page 269 of this textbook we read, "Metaphysics resolves things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul." By resolving "things into thoughts" it may then be seen that "place" must be defined in terms of mental activity, and then it becomes plain that each one of God's ideas expresses that activity for which it was made manifest. Mind places its own ideas. Thus man, God's idea, is held forever in his proper place, always expressing God's purpose.

One's place, then, is really a state of thought; and were one to be moved to his own choice of an environment, taking his erroneous thinking with him, would he not soon become unhappy again? May not such a one find that instead of a different place in which to live or to work, his need is a different mental attitude? And this attitude may be gained through understanding that right where he is, as a child of God, he has all of Truth, all of God's love, protection, support, intelligence, and supply. Each may prove these facts for himself, as he recognizes and puts into use the right ideas which omnipresent Mind is ever supplying.

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