Editorial October 31, 1942 Issue

Motive

Evelyn F. Heywood

Motive of some kind, active or passive, conscious or unconscious, actuates the life of every individual. It may be largely or indeed wholly centered upon self, or it may have caught the vision of service and have touched the fringes of unselfed love.

Sooner or later each one must become aware of then seek to emulate the example of Christ Jesus set forth in the words of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. On page 51 she writes: "His purpose in healing was not alone to restore health, but to demonstrate his divine Principle. He was inspired by God, by Truth and Love, in all that he said and did." A spiritual motive preserves within itself inspiration, assurance of joy; whereas mortal mind, handicapped by motives forever at war with one another or blinded by those which darken and debase its intentions, knows nothing of that city "which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

"Properly speaking," declared Goethe, "everything depends upon a man's intentions. Where these exist, thoughts will likewise appear; and as the intentions are, so too are the thoughts." When men are inspired of God in every word and deed, they can be neither deflected nor influenced by motives, presenting themselves as their own or others', which war against Principle and the rights of man.

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