Editorial January 11, 1930 Issue

Running Our Race

Violet Ker Seymer

Eager children love to run races; they would sooner run than walk to their goal. Is there not something to be learned from this effortless spontaneity, this joyous characteristic of childhood? Translating this activity from matter to Mind, where it belongs, on page 514 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy says, "Mind's infinite ideas run and disport themselves." Spiritual ideas, moving always in the realm of divine Mind, know naught of resistance, opposition, counter-action. In true consciousness there is resistless expansion. Mind's ideas are unweighted with fear, unhampered by mortal concepts of limited time, space, or capacity; they are law-governed, active, expressing in perfect harmony and with natural ease the volition of divine Mind. To this spontaneity and harmony, which characterizes every spiritual idea, no disease is added, no grave contemplation of hypothetical problems, no supposed gravity of matter. Spiritual ideas know only the joy of obedience in carrying out the creator's purposes.

Now what lesson can Christian Scientists learn from this natural, unfettered activity of Mind's spiritual ideas? They should learn resolutely to put off burdens of self-importance, egotistic personal responsibility, the sense of struggle and opposition, and cultivate the more childlike characteristics of humility, simple trust, joyful obedience, loving cooperation. Each one, in running his heavenly race, is fleet-footed in proportion as divine Love is acknowledged to be his incentive, support, and goal. There will then be nothing labored in his thought.

The Psalmist writes, "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart." The Christian Scientist seeks constantly to widen, to enlarge his views, to grow larger-hearted, more universal in his outlook. He is also a law to himself against irksomeness, because he naturally loves to obey the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, the two great commandments quoted by the Master, the rules of Christian Science, and the By-Laws of the Church Manual. He does not repine, but rejoices, when a new opportunity presents itself whereby he may prove the nonexistence of sin, fear, disease. Even though his contest may seem severe, his expectation of victory must not lag or flag, but leap forward with the glad anticipation of Truth's triumph over error. As says the hymn, "The prisoner leaps to loose his chains."

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