Overcoming Procrastination

ALICE D. BREWER

Truly has it been said, "Procrastination is the thief of time." Our wise Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 89) that "we are all capable of more than we do."

How easy it is to say, Some day I shall work this problem out! It is also not uncommon to hear it said, I'm glad I have all eternity to solve this problem. There may be some long-standing physical disability or inharmony, an unhappy phase of domestic life, a so-called inherited, unpleasant trait of character, or lack of employment and supply, lack of friends or social adjustment, fear of one sort or another. Whatever the problem, why not be free from it now? Paul says, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

A student of Christian Science found it necessary one day to make a business trip into a neighboring city. That particular morning she arose with a painful sense of headache and physical inharmony. The thought came to her that since it was necessary that she make this trip, she should go immediately to the Reading Room in the city and stay there reading and realizing the truth until she was free from suffering. She went to the Reading Room. One hour, two hours, passed in reading, but the headache still continued.

A sense of disappointment was experienced for a moment; and then, as she lifted her thought prayerfully to God, this came like a flash: If this truth which you have been reading is true, why need you sit here any longer? With fresh courage imparted by this message of Truth, she arose and went down into the busy streets of the city. Before she had crossed the first intersection, she suddenly realized that the headache and physical inharmony were entirely gone. The student was rewarded with a day full of joyous, harmonious accomplishment as she went about her tasks; and she returned home having had a valuable experience.

But, one may say, this problem of mine is a hard one;and and it has been with me for so long! It may be of long standing, but since Truth is true, it is as true in the case of a so-called hard problem as in that of a simpler one. One may have believed a lie about something for a long time, but this is no reason for continuing to do so when the truth about God's image and likeness is learned—about man, who was given dominion over all the earth. Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Some people, erroneously taught from childhood, believe it is God's will that some of His children should suffer or be unfortunate, for their ultimate good. This teaching Christian Science utterly repudiates, for how could God, who is the very essence of goodness and love, and who can take cognizance only of His own perfect creation, will that any of His children should suffer or be in bondage? It certainly is the will of God that all should be free from erroneous conditions, here and now. Paul said, "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." In Science and Health (p. 227) Mrs. Eddy, with loving and forceful appeal, writes: "Citizens of the world, accept the 'glorious liberty of the children of God,' and be free! This is your divine right."

And so we have divine authority for gaining our freedom from whatever phase of limitation seems to be binding us, whether it be of a physical or a mental nature. It is not necessary or right that we postpone gaining this freedom through spiritual awakening. In fact, we should hasten to accept and claim it completely. If one should suddenly receive word that he had fallen heir to a fortune, would he not immediately take steps to claim and receive the benefit of what was rightfully his? It is error which would cause one to remain in a state of imperfection and tolerate some condition from which he longs to be freed, since the truth of his being is as true now as it ever will be.

Mrs. Eddy tells us in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 340): "There is no excellence without labor; and the time to work, is now. Only by persistent, unremitting, straight-forward toil; by turning neither to the right nor to the left, seeking no other pursuit or pleasure than that which cometh from God, can you win and wear the crown of the faithful."

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