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Overcoming Inertia
THERE is much desire for better living conditions, for improvement of thought, health, and morals, in the world to-day. Every one wants the best for himself and his dear ones. Rare is the parent who believes that what was good enough for him is good enough for his child. There is, however, another cause holding many back from rightful progress—lack of purposeful effort, of consistent, constant, Christlike effort, directed toward the consummation of good.
Many are familiar with the meaning of the term "inertia" as applied to matter. It is defined as "that property of matter by which it [matter] tends to remain in an existing state of rest, or of motion in the same straight line or direction." The same term may well be applied to the mental quality which tends to idle away the hours, or to allow itself to be directed into channels of faulty human thinking.
Christian Scientists have constant need to guard against mental inertia. Long years of demonstration and practice are no warrant for fancied security from the shafts of evil if we do not daily strengthen our spiritual defense. "All that error asks is to be let alone," says our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in the article, "Ways that are Vain," in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 211). Over and over again in the teachings of Jesus and of Mrs. Eddy we find constant admonition to be alert and prayerful. "I say unto you ... all, Watch," was the message given by Jesus to his disciples many times, and often repeated by Mrs. Eddy with much emphasis in all her works, as witness the words in her Message to The Mother Church for 1900 (p. 2), "The song of Christian Science is, 'Work—work—work—watch and pray.'"
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August 21, 1926 issue
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Depending on God
THOMAS C. HOLLINGSHEAD
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Overcoming Inertia
FAITH HOLMES HYERS
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"Love prepareth"
EMMA MARGUERITE WATSON
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"In this place"
MILDRED M. DAVENPORT
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"Consider the lilies"
EDITH EMILY MORGAN
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The Perfect Model
PERCY TAYLOR
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Helpful Thinking
MARY T. TATUM
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If God is Really God to Me
LAURA SHELLEY ALLEN
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The other day you published a dispatch from London...
Judge Chifford P. Smith, Committee on Publication for The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Massachusetts,
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With reference to the article on Christian Science in...
William C. Brookes, Committee on Publication for Midlothian, Scotland,
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A sermon reported in a recent issue of your paper states:...
Edgar McLeod, Committee on Publication for Northern California,
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I shall appreciate an opportunity to correct any false...
Charles E. Heitman, Committee on Publication for the State of New York,
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Due to an article, "Teachings of Devils," in your recent...
Valdemar Willumsen, Committee on Publication for Denmark,
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A Hymn
FLORENCE GILMAN HART
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Mind and Its Manifestation
Albert F. Gilmore
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Protecting Our Churches
Ella W. Hoag
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True Healing
Duncan Sinclair
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The Lectures
with contributions from Grace Sears, Matilda Mountain, Sophie Turner Howard, Hattie Morse Hamburger
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With a deep sense of gratitude to God and to Mrs. Eddy...
Laure Valloton-Delorme
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I am thankful for the opportunity to express my deep...
Fridolf Gustafsson
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I did not come to Christian Science for physical healing
Isabella Montgomery
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In gratitude for what Christian Science has done for me,...
Jessie N. Duncan
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The Christmas season will ever remain in memory...
John C. Hansen
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The Psalmist sang, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget...
Laura M. Manning
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One hardly knows where to start in enumerating the...
Edna Blanchard Young
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I am so grateful for a healing in Christian Science, and I...
Frank M. Sterling
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Signs of the Times
with contributions from Rufus Matthew Jones, George H. Morrison