Article August 22, 1931 Issue

"Higher usefulness"

SYLVANUS W. MITCHELL

Many retiring Readers have been joyfully uplifted by the words of our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, found in an article entitled "Words for the Wise" in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 250), "Readers will retire ex officio, after three years of acceptable service as church Readers, to higher usefulness in this vast vineyard of our Lord."

Students, "after three years of acceptable service as church Readers," have looked forward with joyous anticipation to the opportunity of rendering "higher usefulness in this vast vineyard of our Lord." When the Reader relinquishes his sacred duties to his successor, he takes his place again as a member of the congregation. He then asks himself, How am I going to render "higher usefulness"? A careful consideration of the question, together with a sincere and prayerful effort to learn the answer, will reveal to him that of which he is in search. Indeed, there are opportunities without number in which he may serve.

To begin with, the student knows that the Word of God is impersonal, that all of God's ideas are expressions of the truth, and that in reality there is no change in the expression of the truth that frees men from the bondage of human beliefs. This realization of the perfect expression of God's Word heals any sense of human personality that might try to assert itself concerning retiring or incoming Readers. Such a realization is indeed a healing thought, one that radiates a beneficial and uplifting influence, and surely it is a commendable step toward the goal of "higher usefulness." Such an attitude would silence the subtle tendency to be critical of Readers, or even the desire to compare the work of new Readers with that of the retiring Readers, who in three years have developed poise as the result of unfolding experience.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
Resisting Evil
August 22, 1931
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit