Be Alert!

George Shaw Cook

Alertness is a quality which is very much needed in these times, but to be alert does not necessarily mean to be apprehensive. Indeed, apprehensiveness invites rather than forestalls danger; for as Job said, "The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me." Even those who are not acquainted with the book of Job may be aware of the fact that, in belief, fear brings into human experience many discordant conditions, including disease and disaster.

When there is threatened disaster to individuals, groups, or nations, there are often those who add to the danger by circulation of baseless rumors which tend to create fear. Therefore, it is well in such times not to be unduly swayed by reports which, when investigated, will be found to be without basis in fact.

It is the part of good citizenship and of common sense, in the midst of conditions such as seem to exist at present, to comply with all reasonable requests and regulations made by those whose object is to promote public safety. Students of Christian Science, however, even though having taken such steps, would not be likely to be alarmed by reports circulated thoughtlessly. On the contrary, they would regard all human footsteps taken for protection as of secondary importance and would depend primarily for security on the omnipresence and omnipotence of God, infinite good. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 494): "The miracle of grace is no miracle to Love. Jesus demonstrated the inability of corporeality, as well as the infinite ability of Spirit, thus helping erring human sense to flee from its own convictions and seek safety in divine Science."

Jesus is quoted in Mark's Gospel as having said at one time, "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch;" but this saying should not be construed to mean that one should watch apprehensively or with the expectation of evil, for the context shows that at that time the Master was talking about the coming of the Christ to human consciousness.

Mrs. Eddy has helpfully discussed the subject of true alertness in an article called "Watching versus Watching Out," which may be found on pages 232 and 233 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," and throughout her writings she points to the need for watching, but never with apprehensiveness or fear. Rather do her writings teem with statements based upon such teachings as those of the prophet Isaiah, who said, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

Real trust, confidence, and peace come with the understanding of man's indestructible unity or oneness with God, divine Mind, and Christian Science teaches that such unity is a divine fact, which is never changed or affected in the least by the erroneous belief that man has, or ever did have, existence apart from God. Man is one with Life, Truth, Love, the divine Principle of his being, and consciousness of that fact carries with it a conviction of safety and security which nothing less can confer. Let us, then, be alert to guard against any argument of mortal mind which would tend to mesmerize us with the suggestion that it is possible to entertain for one instant a sense of separation from our heavenly Father-Mother, God. Let us remember the words of Paul, "I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

George Shaw Cook

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Concerning Church Membership

February 7, 1942

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