Accepting Correction

RUTH INGRAHAM

It sometimes happens that when we are told of a mistake we have made, or seem likely to make, we have an exceedingly uncomfortable feeling. Perhaps the unwisdom of some pet plan has been shown us, yet we are loath to give up our plan. Perhaps a fault that we had been cultivating, instead of correcting, has been pointed out so clearly that we can no longer hide it from ourselves. It may be that someone has wisely uncovered an error to which we should be very much awake, such as a belief of contagion in the neighborhood, or some current event which for everybody's sake, and as Christian Scientists, we should be knowing the truth about. But because lazy mortal mind does not wish to face these things, we may be feeling disturbed, offended, and inclined to blame the one who has called our unwilling attention to them. We may even go so far as to accuse him of outlining trouble, fastening error upon us, or even "malpracticing"—a charge which would certainly be a misuse of that often misused word.

Now, if we were planning an automobile trip and someone who knew the route said, At such and such a place you may need to take a detour in order to avoid a bad place in the road; or, At this point make sure you have plenty of supplies, for it is a long way to the next stopping place; or, Be sure your brakes are in good order before you attempt this grade, as it is steep, should we resentfully accuse him of outlining a lot of trouble for us and "malpracticing" on us? To do so would be quite as reasonable as to be angry with the one who sought to open our eyes to some obvious error which should by all means be corrected. This would be a very different thing from gossiping about error, or going into unnecessary details about the affairs of others.

Perhaps nobody exactly enjoys having his faults pointed out to him. It takes the Christly grace of humility to be really willing to receive a wise rebuke. But faults are mistakes of one kind or another, and who could succeed in any undertaking unless he were willing to see and correct his mistakes? Our dear Leader, Mrs. Eddy, says in her wonderful chapter on Prayer in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 8): "We should examine ourselves and learn what is the affection and purpose of the heart, for in this way only can we learn what we honestly are. If a friend informs us of a fault, do we listen patiently to the rebuke and credit what is said?" And of herself she says (ibid., p. 9), "During many years the author has been most grateful for merited rebuke." In Proverbs it is written, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend."

If it is a sensible and necessary thing often to examine a machine to see whether it is in good working order, and to ask advice of one who knows the road, it is surely still wiser often to take honest stock of ourselves, and not wince or take offense at the advice we get from father or mother, practitioner, teacher, comrade, or even from one who may not speak with the kindest of motives. It is a great thing to be willing to accept correction in a spirit that takes all the sting out of it and only rejoices in being pointed to the right road. The pure thinking and right doing of Jesus were often offensive to those who did not wish to be corrected either by his word or by his example. He rebuked error of every sort fearlessly,—sometimes gently, sometimes sternly,—but always for the most loving purpose of setting people free from error, and pointing them to the safe, right way of life, which he himself was taking. The great Master knew that those who are most willing to be taught his way are those who will be happiest; so he said, "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."

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