Article January 28, 1939 Issue

Progress Is Joyous!

ALICE LOUISE MERRILL

A well-known pastor of a large congregation in the business district of a western city often received requests to repeat a sermon entitled "Keep Sweet and Keep Moving." Sweetness and friendliness are essentials to sound progress. How easy it is to smile at a little child! The expression is spontaneous and loving. The response is immediate, joyous. With added years of experience and service, there sometimes comes the need actively to cultivate sweetness of character and disposition, and courageously to determine to continue one's way onward and upward.

Christian Scientists are taking the first steps along the way which leads from sense to Soul. It is a joyous adventure! In Christian Science nothing can obstruct the way; nothing can tempt one to stray from the ascending path, provided the desire to progress is supported by a prompt and willing obedience to divine requirements. Aggressive mental suggestions may knock at the door of human consciousness many times with disturbing messages; problems may arise; but divine Love is ever present to shield, comfort, and counsel us. With the grateful acknowledgment of the presence and reality of an all-wise, all-powerful God, there comes the assurance that the spiritual understanding necessary to gain dominion over false beliefs is supplied when needed.

Satisfaction with mediocre progress and with the attainment of a degree of immunity from the difficulties which ordinarily trouble mankind must not deter the Christian Scientist from reaching out to higher altitudes of spiritual discernment and demonstration. The inclination to settle down comfortably in some halfway position invites apathy, which may be followed by a lessened ability scientifically to analyze and solve daily problems. Awakening to the need of consecrated effort, we press on, fearlessly and honestly facing what appear to be our individual problems, thus becoming prepared to aid intelligently in the solution of the complex problems, confronting the nations.

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