Article April 30, 1932 ISSUE

Opportunity, Ability, Fruition

VERNITA SEELEY

EVERY alert individual desires to express activity. With many, activity is expressed in the work incident to the necessity of earning a living; with others, it is a matter of "self-expression." But self-expression, when it means the expression of the so-called human selfhood, does not bring lasting peace and satisfaction. For the moment it may seem to give a sense of success; but looking deeper, and through human experience, one sees that it is a bubble which bursts at the touch of spiritual reality. How, then, can one attain to truly successful activity?

Three factors—opportunity, ability, fruition—may be said to have an important part in right activity. And first, in the design or purpose of good, of God, is where one needs to be placed. We may ask in our anxiety, But how am I to find this place? This question is disposed of by the reassuring words of Christ Jesus, "I go to prepare a place for you." Could we want more than to know that the Christ prepares a place for us?

A student of Christian Science once applied for class instruction. The arguments arose that as she was applying at almost the last minute it was too late for her to be considered; that there were others more worthy than she, and more experienced; and that the number to be chosen was limited. But as she carefully studied Jesus' parable of the laborers in the vineyard, the answer came. The lord of the vineyard accepted those waiting to be called at the eleventh hour, as well as those applying at the first, and equally with the first. This unfoldment took away the fear of loss of opportunity through her having applied late. It took away the sense of fear that because of what the world called lack of experience there was no place for her; and it took away the false sense of unworthiness. It showed that to each one are offered opportunity and reward. Especially comforting was the thought that because of their right motive and right desire even those who had not had the opportunity to serve long were nevertheless blessed.

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