Article December 27, 1930 Issue

Pressing Toward the Mark

NELLIE B. MACE

In his epistle to the Philippians Paul says, "This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." In these words the apostle sets forth a noble model for human endeavor. All men desire to progress. Not all, however, are aware, as was Paul, that what they truly desire is to win "the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Ideals of progress differ, as do the persons entertaining them; but whatever these various hopes and ideals may be, there is at least a common longing to go forward.

Paul's words may sometimes have been taken to mean merely that the apostle determined to disregard the past, as something unworthy of remembrance. This view, however, is not supported by some of his other writings, notably, his second epistle to the Corinthians, in which he enumerates at some length the sufferings and wrongs he had experienced, showing that he not only could but did vividly recall and record the difficulties which had beset him. And the account of his triumphant passing through the deep waters of experience remains to this day an encouragement and an inspiration to those who may feel that they have made mistakes, or who may have endured hardships, wrongs, and irreparable loss.

That Paul's method of "forgetting those things which are behind" was an intelligent and an effective one is evidenced by his further words, in the same letter to the Corinthians, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, ... in necessities, ... in distresses for Christ's sake." In commenting on this passage (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 201), Mrs. Eddy explains that "Paul took pleasure in infirmities, for it enabled him to triumph over them." And a few lines farther on she adds that "he took pleasure in 'necessities,' for they tested and developed latent power." These infirmities and necessities and his emergence from them were undoubtedly among the things which he felt were to be rightly forgotten, as he pressed forward in faithful and patient obedience to the divine call.

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