Editorial January 4, 1930 Issue

Efficiency

Clifford P. Smith

Ability may be regarded as the power to achieve good results. "Efficiency is active power to effect a definite result, the power that actually does, as distinguished from that which may do." This quotation is from the Practical Standard Dictionary, under "power." Evidently, therefore, all of us have plenty of ability; what many of us seem to lack is efficiency. Another quotation from the same authority, on the meaning of the word "efficiency," will elucidate this point: "This word is chiefly used of intelligent agents as denoting the quality that brings all one's power to bear promptly and to the best purpose on the thing to be done."

Now, in absolute fact, we are intelligent agents; we are agents of divine Mind; and we bear this relation to the Principle of all power. So there is no good reason why we should seem to lack either ability or efficiency. Christ Jesus taught that his faithful followers should be "endued with power from on high." From this analysis, then, there emerges the question, How can we, as Christians, as Christian Scientists, cultivate and develop our efficiency? How can anyone do this? A complete answer to this question cannot be attempted here, but a few important points can be stated.

Of first importance is the proposition that each person should cultivate and develop the true sense of his unity with divine Mind, divine Principle. Conversely stated, among the most fundamental of human errors is the belief that an individual exists by himself. Consequently, this error needs to be eradicated and excluded from thought with the diligence and the persistence which are fully equal to the importance of the task. As Mrs. Eddy has said (Pulpit and Press, p. 4), "You have simply to preserve a scientific, positive sense of unity with your divine source, and daily demonstrate this." And later on the same page she states, "Reflect this Life, and with it cometh the full power of being." When she deduced from the recorded atonement of Christ Jesus and emphasized in Christian Science teaching the idea, "man's unity with God" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, pp. 18, 497), Mrs. Eddy made a very great contribution to Christian theology and to human welfare.