Article January 30, 1943 Issue

Doing as We Are Told

[Of Special Interest to Youth]

F. MILDRED RICKMAN

This is the story of a boy who left his home in England because he wanted to be independent and make his own way in Canada. When he landed he had only a few dollars left. He set out to find work, but after a number of interviews no one had engaged him. Always when asked what training he had had, or what qualifications he could bring to any special job, he was obliged to reply that he had none. He would not, however, acknowledge defeat. Then one day as he again applied for work, the usual question was asked, "Have you any special training?" "No," he replied. "What can you do then?" And in that moment the thought of obedience came to him, and he answered bravely, "There is one thing I can do; I can do as I am told." The interviewer engaged him at once. From that day the boy went forward, though not without difficulties at times; but he had learned a lesson which enabled him later to help others and to train men in discipline and obedience. It helped him too to be more understanding and kind.

It may be that there had been insubordination behind that boy's desire to leave his home, and though he had courage, determination, and perseverance, yet obedience had to be learned sooner or later. When this fact was recognized, he was on the road to victory over self-will, over a supposed selfhood apart from our Father-Mother God.

We also may learn a lesson from this experience. As Christian Scientists, we know how patiently our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, impressed upon her followers the necessity for obedience. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 116) she has given us four salient points inherent in obedience: "Never absent from your post, never off guard, never ill-humored, never unready to work for God,—is obedience; being 'faithful over a few things.'" And she adds, "If in one instance obedience be lacking, you lose the scientific rule and its reward: namely, to be made 'ruler over many things.'"

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