Editorial January 7, 1939 Issue

Inventory

George Shaw Cook

At about this time of year many merchants "take stock," that is, make an inventory of merchandise on hand. Lists are made of the various items, together with their cost or their probable cash value. The process of stocktaking helps merchants to make needed decisions with regard to future purchases and so forth. As a result of inventory, some lines of merchandise are replenished, some are reduced, and others are discontinued.

Similarly, students of Christian Science find it helpful frequently to take a mental inventory for the purpose of determining which thought-tendencies should be increased, and which ones should be decreased or discontinued. Thus to examine one's lines of thought for the purpose of discovering what thoughts should be dispensed with is time well spent. But such self-examination should not be allowed to descend to the level of morbid introspection; for this would be likely to result in self-depreciation or self-condemnation. However, Mary Baker Eddy, on page 8 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," says, "We should examine ourselves and learn what is the affection and purpose of the heart, for in this way only can we learn what we honestly are."

Thoughts of envy, jealousy, anger, resentment, revenge, hatred, and fear are detrimental to one's spiritual growth and may, in belief, adversely affect one's physical condition. Therefore such thoughts, when found to have a place in one's mental storehouse, should be promptly classified as undesirable and quickly dispensed with. Self-pity, self-righteousness, self-love, and self-justification belong to lines of thought which are worthless and should be discontinued Unkind criticism, unjust judgment, and unloving condemnation are likewise harmful thoughts which should not be kept "in stock." Mrs. Eddy has said in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 355), "Learn what in thine own mentality is unlike 'the anointed,' and cast it out; then thou wilt discern the error in thy patient's mind that makes his body sick, and remove it, and rest like the dove from the deluge." This is in agreement with the admonition of Paul, the apostle, "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind."

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