Editorial March 17, 1934 Issue

Unreality of Self-Will

Violet Ker Seymer

The mortal belief in self-will is usually interwoven with pride of accomplishment, ambition, rivalry, tension, reaction. Actually a bane, self-will poses as an asset. It mostly thrives on opposition and, seeing an obstacle, ruthlessly braces itself to overthrow it; then may look back with pride on wreckage in the rear. The Apostle Peter describes what he calls "the unjust" as "chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed."

The remedy for self-will is not to become volitionless, but to understand and obey the will of God, divine Principle, and this entails acknowledging only one creator, Spirit, and one wholly spiritual creation. No one could succeed in breaking the habit of self-will while continuing to accept matter as the basis of life and intelligence. To combat self-will, then, as merely one of the undesirable traits of human character would be to regard it too superficially. Referring to Paul's statement concerning taking pleasure in infirmities "for Christ's sake," Mrs. Eddy writes (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 201), "The Science of Paul's declaration resolves the element misnamed matter into its original sin, or human will; that will which would oppose bringing the qualities of Spirit into subjection to Spirit." The way of liberation from self-will lies in the recognition of God, Spirit, as the only creator, and Life, Truth, and Love as the only substance. Man in God's likeness is not born "of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." His birthright is spiritual purity, righteousness, and peace.

The understanding of the divine will so gloriously exemplified by Christ Jesus enables one to heal sickness, vanquish sin and fear, cherish holy ambition, and achieve satisfaction through the joy of reflecting the divine nature. Christian Science holds out to us the high goal of spiritual perfection and the way of reaching it. It also points out that, despite its many pretenses and promises, blind self-will is actually goalless. Since there is only one God there is only one will. Recognizing and identifying ourselves with that only which is good and true exposes the falsity, the futility, of false appetites and selfish motives, and directs our aims Spiritward.

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