Article March 15, 1930 Issue

Spiritual Proficiency

EDMUND R. CUMMINS

Someone has said in substance that if one could become thoroughly proficient in the doing of but one useful thing, the world would wear a pathway to his door, even though he lived in a wilderness. This saying recognizes the value of thoroughness, and prompts the question, How may I become truly proficient in my chosen task? The answer is that adeptness may be acquired only by careful attention to any given subject.

A diversity of general material knowledge may possibly make one an interesting conversationalist, or may afford a sense of personal gratification, but it seldom produces a really efficient worker in any specialized line of effort which might be of service to others. For this reason, even though a liberal education is a most desirable thing in many ways as a cultural background, it should never be made an end in itself, for experience shows that in relation to what is known as success its value is often negligible. The laudable desire and definite object of every earnest student of Christian Science is to become more proficient in spiritual healing, to do the works that Christ Jesus did, to prepare himself to fulfill the Master's promise relative to the "greater works."

The Master's life on earth was devoted to an ideal. That ideal was the reflecting of divine Love in relieving mankind from sin and suffering, for he came to do the works of his Father. It is evident that if we are to follow in his steps we must do this in the way he appointed, for he is our Way-shower. Incidentally, one soon finds that in following him the source of all happiness is found, and treasures in heaven are being laid up.

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