Editorial February 17, 1945 Issue

Man Never Under Pressure

Paul Stark Seeley

Mortal existence is a variable experience. Some days seem pretty good; some not so good; and often some are much upset and gloomy. Sometimes we hear a friend say that he feels under pressure. Probably most of us have encountered some hectic days when things have seemed to be at sixes and sevens, and we have felt as though something has set our world all topsy-turvy.

Well, let's look into this matter of pressure on or against us. My Oxford dictionary starts out its definition of "pressure" by calling it the "exertion of continuous force upon a body by another in contact with it." Bricks lying in a wall, sardines in a can, or persons pushing persons in a crowd, would be examples of physical pressure. Then the dictionary refers to the gaseous pressure of atmosphere and steam, and lastly to the more mental forms, such as financial pressure, oppression, and the pressure of trouble.

There are those who believe the stars have more control over their affairs than God, and who say that what they call "pressure periods" are due to the particular alignment at particular times, of certain planets—big balls of matter, in space. Such thinking presumes that the supremely intelligent cause of man, whom we call God, has surrendered or delegated His sovereignty to certain selected material spheres, man-made calendars, and material forces. But how can supreme intelligence work through unthinking matter and ignorant forces? "The planets," says Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 102), "have no more power over man than over his Maker, since God governs the universe." Large and distant balls of matter are no more the controller of man than smaller and nearby balls of matter—baseballs, for instance.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Man Never Under Pressure

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access