Article March 10, 1928 Issue

Service

RUTH R. WESLER

As in regard to other things, so-called mortal mind has many and varied concepts of what constitutes service. Sometimes, according to it, service would seem to be "rushing around smartly," which our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, wisely warns us in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 230) is "no proof of accomplishing much." She gives us a truer idea of service when she quotes in the Preface to the same work (p. ix), "The noblest charity is to prevent a man from accepting charity; and the best alms are to show and to enable a man to dispense with alms."

Christian Science teaches us not to depend upon the person or personality of anyone. The highest service is to help one to help himself by cleansing his thought and helping him to look to God, divine Principle, instead of to persons and things for good. A true Christian Scientist serves the whole world by thinking rightly from a perfect spiritual basis. We cannot serve two masters. Our thought must be constantly watched, or we shall tend to think rightly only part of the time, all too often serving the other master. Divine Mind is continually watching over us and caring for us, but we forget constantly to know this. We build altars to other gods; they totter and fail us; then in dismay we remember to look higher, there to find the truth about God, undisturbed, calm, peaceful, a refuge from every storm, "the secret place of the most High."

A concept of service is expressed by Milton in the words, "They also serve who only stand and wait." Sometimes we serve best by patiently waiting after the seed is sown. We must "let patience have her perfect work." The cup of cold water may be a right thought held. The example of a true and noble life is a high service to mankind. All who turn from false material sense to spiritual sense can make life beautiful and good by reflecting the Love that is divine.

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