Editorial November 15, 1941 Issue

Promptness versus Procrastination

George Shaw Cook

Many are familiar with the saying, "Procrastination is the thief of time," and it might be said with equal truth that procrastination is a waster of time. In an article called "Improve Your Time," which is found on page 230 of "Miscellaneous Writings," Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, says: "A great amount of time is consumed in talking nothing, doing nothing, and indecision as to what one should do. If one would be successful in the future, let him make the most of the present."

Some people appear to proceed on the theory that it is well to postpone action and await developments, rather than to act immediately with the conviction that the course decided upon is the right one and should be acted upon at once. The latter procedure may often prove more nearly right than the former, especially when considered from the standpoint of Christian Science, which teaches that the activity of divine Mind, the one source of right action, is spontaneous, immediate, and continuous.

Promptness and procrastination are both characteristics of the so-called human mind, rather than qualities of divine Mind, because both have to do with time, and cannot rightly be associated with the thought of eternity, in which time has no part. On page 514 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy says: "In the figurative transmission from the divine thought to the human, diligence, promptness, and perseverance are likened to 'the cattle upon a thousand hills.' They carry the baggage of stern resolve, and keep pace with highest purpose." This indicates that she regarded promptness as a relative rather than as an absolute fact.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

"For a victory over evil"