Article September 24, 1938 Issue

Fruition

ELOISE L. PATTILLO

Plato's assertion, "What thou seest, that thou beest," is a truism which might be further rendered, What thou seest, that thou doest, or havest, or makest—as exemplified in the attainments of the statesman, the inventor, the artist, the writer. The one who companions with worthy thoughts and motives assimilates them, himself growing naturally into greatness and majesty. Likewise, though not always in the constructive sense, the character and prospects of the individual and the nation are determined by the nature of the ideals molded and entertained in consciousness.

Jesus once said: "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ... Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." True success, the study of Christian Science shows, is the outcome of God-governed thinking and acting. There can be no failure for the one who apprehends the fact of good's omnipotence and allness and of man's part in the universal harmony as the perfect, complete, and spiritual reflection of God, and who consistently abides by this fact in all his thinking and undertakings. There are throughout the world today many thousands who, previous to their reception of Christian Science, had accepted the disheartening verdicts of unenlightened mortal belief—sickness, disability, unemployment, old age, partiality, limited opportunity—and suffered because of these convictions until the truth, set forth in Mrs. Eddy's revelation, radically altered their old beliefs. In learning to reason from the standpoint of Spirit, perfect creator and perfect creation, they have found that health, freedom, right activity, longevity, and affluence have been the definite fruition of such thinking; and they have realized the invincible truth contained in these words from the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy (p. 298): "As a cloud hides the sun it cannot extinguish, so false belief silences for a while the voice of immutable harmony, but false belief cannot destroy Science armed with faith, hope, and fruition." Fear of failure, bleak pessimism, or hopelessness cannot weigh down and impede those who are learning to claim as rightfully theirs "faith, hope, and fruition."

Right place for the use of one's individual talent would often seem to be a most pressing consideration, yet such is actually an incident, important as it may be. Anxiety with regard to outward place or occupation is but a decoy to divert one from giving primary concern to his thinking, as reflecting the omniaction of good. The quality and nobility of one's ideals and aims are of far greater importance than the question of what avenue they might best be directed in; for the right ideal, cherished in thought and distinguished by continuous practice, must inevitably find expression in useful, worth-while service. Resisting undue outlining saves needless disappointment and frustration. The folly of inflexible human planning was indicated by George Meredith when he wrote: "A purpose wedded to plans may easily suffer ship-wreck. Of a far higher quality is the will that can subdue itself to wait and lay no petty traps for opportunity."

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