Surmounting Obstacles

An Eastern legend tells of a rich man who lived near a road over which many persons traveled. He was kind to the travelers, allowing them to rest in the shade near his house, giving them cool water wherewith to quench their thirst, and food when they were hungry. Troubled over the idleness manifested by many of the passers-by, he found that most of them, grumbling because a stone in the middle of the road was in their way, either walked or drove around it. Just before nightfall, however, came a miller's boy who, although he was in a hurry to get home, stopped when he came to the stone and said to himself: It will soon be dark, and someone may stumble over the stone; I will roll it out of the road. He found the stone heavy, but after much tugging, rolled it into the gutter. And in the place where the stone had been he found a pot filled with shining gold pieces, on which was written, "This pot and the gold belong to the one who takes away the stone."

On our way to the kingdom of heaven we may seem to encounter many obstacles. As students of Christian Science we are learning that no obstacle can be conquered by trying to go around it or merely complaining about it. The deceitful stones of false belief must be removed by knowing their unreality. Thus we can serve others as well as ourselves. And if we follow humbly and prayerfully the way revealed by Christ Jesus and our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, we shall never lack the necessary inspiration to remove the stones of error and help to clear the way for others who are traveling in the path toward Soul, as we ourselves are endeavoring to do.

Does limitation of some nature seem to block our way? Does failure in our work seem imminent? Does envy or jealousy seem to retard our progress? Let us in the strength of Spirit remove these obstructions, remembering that, as Mrs. Eddy says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 328), "Whatever obstructs the way,—causing to stumble, fall, or faint, those mortals who are striving to enter the path,—divine Love will remove." Since God is All, good cannot be limited. If we are about our "Father's business," seeing it as our only work, failure is impossible. And since God is our Mind, we can, through the exercise of divine intelligence, remove all seeming obstacles from our experience. Those who try to go around the obstructions may consider them nuisances. Rather, however, should we see them as opportunities to prove our understanding of divine Science, wherein man is seen to be perfect, harmonious, and immortal, dwelling forever in the bosom of the heavenly Father.

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Stretching Forth the Hand
May 7, 1932
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