Article July 23, 1932 Issue

Asking Life

ETHEL COLWELL SMITH

One who had reached mature years turned to Christian Science for help what seemed a tenacious disease. Treatment was given, and the trouble was alleviated to some extent; but complete cure was not effected. Finally, study was taken up alone, without the aid of a practitioner, albeit in rather a desultory fashion; for constantly in this student's thinking was the discouraging argument of mortal mind that even if she did get well now she was getting along in years and her life would probably terminate fairly soon anyway. This unpleasant mesmerism persisted for many weeks, robbing her of happiness and spontaneous activity. Duties were fulfilled and the daily routine carried on as far as possible, but hopelessly, doggedly, and without enthusiasm.

One Sunday, this one attended the Christian Science church as was her custom. During the service her attention was suddenly arrested by the announcement which is read from the Christian Science Quarterly in every church where there are two meetings on Sunday: "The evening service is a repetition of the morning service." To this waiting and receptive heart there came at that instant a holy revelation that the evening service of her life was but a repetition of its morning service; that the portion of years ahead was to be filled with opportunities, possibly even greater than had occupied her early young womanhood, because of the experience and wisdom gained through trials and victories. This vision of eteranl life brought fresh vigor and a complete healing of the physical difficulty.

One of the definitions of "fear" given in the Glossary of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy (p. 586), is "caution." Many people who have been otherwise courageous find themselves approaching advancing years with timidity and dread. Exercise and diet, business and pleasure, are believed to require some adjustment in preparation for supposedly inevitable decrepitude. Yet Christ Jesus said that he had come that we might have life, and that we might have it "more abundantly." And human life, when considered simply, is but a succession of days. A day is marked out astronomically by the twenty-four hours in which the earth turns on its axis. Do we allow this succession of turnings to measure life for us? Suppose one sat on a merry-go-round and made a number of rotations, would he feel that this series of rotations had made him older?

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