Resolutions

George Shaw Cook

At one time, perhaps more than at present, it was quite the fashion to make good resolutions on January first, many of which, it is regrettable to be obliged to say, were broken on the following day, or soon thereafter.

Had these good resolutions been accompanied by revolution, had they resulted in reformation, in practical abandonment of bad habits and practices, it would have been better; for without fulfillment, promises, however worthy, are of little value. The futility of making resolutions which are not carried out is obvious. Writing on page 204 of her book "Miscellaneous Writings," Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, says: "By purifying human thought, this state of mind permeates with increased harmony all the minutiae of human affairs. It brings with it wonderful foresight, wisdom, and power; it unselfs the mortal purpose, gives steadiness to resolve, and success to endeavor."

Good resolutions, then, unless followed promptly and persistently by a change in one's habits of thought and action, are of no practical benefit, either to the individual or to others. To make a resolution is easy; to keep it is more difficult. However, Christian Scientists are finding that with the help they derive from acknowledging God, divine Mind, as the source of their strength, courage, ability, and faithfulness, they are better able to keep right resolutions, whether made at the New Year or at other times.

One resolution, made not on January first, but at another time, is well known to students of American history. Abraham Lincoln, in his Gettysburg address, called upon his audience to "highly resolve ... that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." In these words Lincoln dedicated his hearers to the holy purpose of perpetuating a righteous government under the guidance and direction of Almighty God. This is certainly a worthy purpose, and one which may be shared by liberty-loving and right-thinking people everywhere, whatever their nationality.

Christian Scientists understand that, as their Leader says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 106), "God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience. Man is properly self-governed only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love." Furthermore, Christian Scientists know that harmonious and righteous government can be established in and among the nations of the earth only in the proportion, and to the extent, that mankind, individually and collectively, recognize and acknowledge God, infinite good, as the only real governing power.

Therefore, Christian Scientists may and should resolve, here and now, that they will not be unduly disturbed by the unhappy, unjust, and unrighteous conditions that seem to appear from time to time and to a greater or less extent in all human governments. And Christian Scientists may and should resolve not to be deceived into believing that evil conditions are personal, national, or racial. Their ability to deal with these conditions scientifically and successfully will be in the ratio of their ability to see evil as impersonal and unreal.

So, right in the midst of discordant manifestations of error, students of Christian Science can hold firmly to the fact that no matter how bad conditions in the world in general or in any particular part of the world may appear to be, the irrefutable spiritual fact remains that divine Principle is the only governing power. Men and nations may seem at times to be swayed and dominated by influences that are altogether unworthy and undesirable, but the forever fact remains that "the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us."

We shall do well, therefore, to hold firmly to this fact, and thus, through stabilizing our own thinking, do our part in bringing about the stabilization of thought throughout the world. Our beloved Leader says (ibid., p. 293): "The manifestations of evil, which counterfeit divine justice, are called in the Scriptures, 'The anger of the Lord.' In reality, they show the self-destruction of error or matter and point to matter's opposite, the strength and permanency of Spirit. Christian Science brings to light Truth and its supremacy, universal harmony, the entireness of God, good, and the nothingness of evil."

George Shaw Cook

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December 31, 1938

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