Editorial September 27, 1941 Issue

Achievement

Evelyn F. Heywood

Christ Jesus set no bounds to, admitted no modifications for achievement. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," he said to his disciples. On page 260 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy has likewise written, "Science reveals the possibility of achieving all good, and sets mortals at work to discover what God has already done." The discovery that man is perfect because God is perfect is the first step in achievement. Mortal man's belief of himself as fallen and accursed, whether consciously acknowledged or not, has been the reason for all the discouragement and disillusionment, all the distrust and inhibition of mankind. The acceptance of even the possibility of failure undermines from the outset the human effort and expectation of success.

Who can question that Christ Jesus from youth upward, poring over the Scriptures, which proclaim not only the spiritual origin of man and creation, but also the absolute supremacy of him who relies upon God, was inspired and directed from one exalted achievement to the next. It was said of Matthew Arnold that "he set his heart upon the goal, not on the prize." And indeed why should men set their heart upon a prize, look for reward in the expression of what already is?

Great benefactors of the human race, such as Newton, Watts, Marconi, and Edison, have not looked for a prize. They have had but one purpose, the discovery and utilization of that which obtains, as the result of research, the highest usefulness in its approximation to human needs. And something in this proof of unselfed devotion, in this willing dedication to universal service, has strengthened and inspired them to endure the discipline of incalculable hardships, mental and physical, in order to reach their goal.

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