Editorial February 22, 1941 Issue

Diligence

EVELYN F. HEYWOOD

Diligence is an attribute of God, expressed in eternal, unfolding usefulness. Authoritatively announcing the origin and continuity of his being, Christ Jesus declared, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." When we consider that the word "diligence" is derived from diligere, meaning to love, we see how appropriate is its application to the career of him whose sole purpose was to bless mankind.

This diligence which Jesus manifested, in his watchfulness and consecration, in his patience and compassion, in his vigorous denunciation of evil and his exalted assurances of good, was unfailingly directed by wisdom and inspired by Love. When men lift their concept of work into line with divine Principle as Jesus did, they will no longer toil wearily for false gains and ephemeral values, but will express the effortless diligence which is Mind in action. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me," he said; "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

In Christian Science men come to see that true diligence is found in the willingness and ability to differentiate between right and wrong, to let God's will be done rather than labor feverishly, and in the end vainly, to attain their own ends. In the measure of their trust and obedience, do they find that the operation of God's law makes every yoke easy and every burden light. They find, in fact, that diligence is one with Love. "God rests in action. Imparting has not impoverished, can never impoverish, the divine Mind. No exhaustion follows the action of this Mind, according to the apprehension of divine Science," writes Mary Baker Eddy on page 519 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." And in the margin are these words: "Resting in holy work."

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