Article July 25, 1931 Issue

"Redeeming the time"

KIMMIS HARTLEY HENDRICK

In these busy days one often hears expressed the wish for more time—more time to read the newspaper, to study, to play, or to meet the demands of home and business. The Christian Scientist, usually poised and happy, may sometimes come under the pressure of time's necessities, and so find himself wishing for more hours in which to study his textbooks and read his periodicals. Granting the sincerity of these desires, one may well wonder whether, if he had more time, he would actually make good use of it. When it is remembered that even in a limited sense of time and opportunity there is room for delay and wasted moments, it would appear that what the Christian Scientist needs is not more time, but only to make better use of the time he has. Mrs. Eddy once wrote in words of lucid import (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 230) that a great deal of time is wasted "in talking nothing, doing nothing, and indecision as to what one should do."

Jesus' use of the time at his disposal may well be taken by the Christian Scientist as exemplary. Daily he was occupied in a holy, loving ministry of healing and teaching, and it is safe to say that never was there one busier than he. Frequently he went apart from the multitude to commune with his Father, and after these periods of prayer came the demands of the sick and the sinning that he heal them. Why did not the Master need more refuge from the toil and care of his day? Because, in doing the Father's business, his work made manifest Immanuel, "a divine influence ever present in human consciousness" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, Pref., p. xi).

How much time ought to be devoted to study? The answer to this question must be individual; but it is safe to say, in a general way, that the need for more demonstration is greater than the need for more study. Study of the Bible and of Science and Health, together with all other Christian Science literature, is essential; it is not, however, an end in and of itself alone. Mrs. Eddy has said (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 85) that "books and teaching are but a ladder let down from the heaven of Truth and Love, upon which angelic thoughts ascend and descend, bearing on their pinions of light the Christ-spirit." In other words, "books and teaching" are means of gaining inspiration, deep wells from which to draw the waters of spiritual understanding. In these waters our lives must be baptized. So the greatest need is to "pray without ceasing" by doing holy work.

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