Article March 25, 1939 Issue

"A little leaven"

E. OLIVE DAVIS

"The kingdom of heaven," said Jesus, "is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." This parable contains a promise which we in this age particularly need to remember.

Much is being said today to discourage young people who are starting out in life. Sometimes they are made to feel that high ideals are impracticable. World peace still seems a distant goal. Governments often seem to be corrupt, in the hands of those who are motivated by desire for personal power or greed. Success frequently seems to be obtained by those who are willing to sacrifice honesty and integrity for personal profit; and even in the field of sport, we find that trickery and deception are sometimes substituted for proved skill and clean competition. In the face of this evidence, iterated and reiterated by the press, the radio, and other publicizing agencies, young people may be tempted to believe that Christian Science, with its message of practical idealism, is visionary and cannot be demonstrated in actual experience. The argument may present itself that, even though its doctrines are sound and logical, it is futile for an individual to attempt to prove them in a world where material thinking is predominant.

Perhaps it was in answer to such specious arguments that the Master used the parable quoted above for the comfort and encouragement of his listeners, reminding them that the power of Truth is indeed mighty, pervasive, penetrating. Christian Science may not require us to grapple with world problems before we have learned how to meet our own individual problems successfully, in the local sphere to which we are accustomed. We need to remember, however, that divine Principle is always operative to apply in our personal experience or in world affairs. In "Pulpit and Press" (p. 4) Mary Baker Eddy, our revered Leader, writes: "You have simply to preserve a scientific, positive sense of unity with your divine source, and daily demonstrate this. Then you will find that one is as important a factor as duo-decillions in being and doing right, and thus demonstrating deific Principle." If we will begin to prove what we know in the simple things of daily affairs, we shall grow in grace and confidence, and be ready to try our ever-unfolding understanding in wider fields of usefulness.

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