Article October 29, 1927 Issue

"They also serve"

PRISCILLA W. OKIE

To those Christian Scientists who are desirous of giving more time to direct service in the beloved Cause of Christian Science, but who because of any of the legitimate duties attendant upon human living find this impossible, there is comfort and help in Milton's familiar words, "They also serve who only stand and wait."

Scientific waiting is not idleness. True waiting means continuous dependence on God, a bringing into the minutiae of daily living a larger measure of that trust in God which the Psalmist urges: "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him;" "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." To stand firm amid opposition, and even persecution, is no light task; and often to stand and wait, to depend trustingly on God under such circumstances, takes courage that the heavenly Father alone can give.

Growth in Christian Science comes in proportion to the measure of the understanding of Truth applied and proved. The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 174): "Truth is revealed. It needs only to be practised." There can be no apathy in the practice of Christian Science. Problems do not solve themselves. Instantaneous demonstrations in Christian Science come because consciousness is receptive to the workings of infinite Mind, because the individual's thought is emptied, for the time being at least, of obstructing erroneous beliefs. Let a room, however long darkened, but have its doors and windows thrown open, and in will pour the sunshine. So in Science: let the doors of thought be opened to Truth, and dark and sinful beliefs will simply disappear with the inflowing of the revealed and revealing light. So long as the way is left clear for the entrance of the light, so long will consciousness be illuminated. In this manner is Truth practiced and demonstrated. But demonstrations will come more often, lives will be governed more harmoniously, only as one more steadfastly stands for God, as one more patiently waits "on the Lord."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

On Thinking Rightly