Duty

HILGARD B. YOUNG

The writer's childhood recollection of a duty is of something he was going to be made to do against his will. Early in life mortal mind sometimes loads us with misconceptions which, if not refuted by a truer sense, color our thinking for many years to come. Webster gives "respect" and "reverence" as two principal definitions of duty, and says also that a sense of duty comes from "obligation to obey divinely revealed law." This is a scientific statement, and what indeed could more adequately outline the Christian Scientist's conception of a proper course of conduct?

Now reverence and respect cannot mean unhappiness, but indicate rather a consciousness of those higher sentiments which contribute to the building of character. There is joy also in the Scientist's realization that any "obligation" he has "to obey divinely revealed law" must of necessity reveal that greater consciousness of Love which lifts thought above any sense of human obligation and maintains his clear sense of God's allness and ever-presence.

A duty, then, is not some deed to be performed unwillingly, because of the fear of consequences. It becomes an opportunity to demonstrate more of the divine presence—by reflecting and expressing this presence in one's own consciousness—and to follow in the path where God directs.

Mary Baker Eddy had a clear concept of the call of duty as it affected her own experience, and gives us some inkling of what this meant in the following inspiring statement from our textbook. "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 268): "In this revolutionary period, like the shepherd-boy with his sling, woman goes forth to battle with Goliath." She did indeed go forth, not unwillingly but joyously in strength, regardless of adversity or trial, and was undefeated.

Christian Science teaches that our refuge is not to be found in evasion or avoidance of duty, but in the understanding of our spiritual identity, in the realization of man's unity with God. Mrs. Eddy says. "Jesus of Nazareth taught and demonstrated man's oneness with the Father, and for this we owe him endless homage" (ibid., p.18). Our reward for obeying divine law is not safety merely; it is salvation. Duty done reveals greater opportunity, greater responsibility, greater obligation to perform.

As each one must demonstrate the spiritual idea of man for himself, so he must also demonstrate the right idea of duty for himself. This right idea of duty is not something to be brought out as an accomplishment in the future. It exists in Mind, and is therefore included in man's understanding of God.

Does a suggestion creep in to the effect that one may be exposed to danger in the performance of his duty to God which may be avoided by the evasion of that duty? This is not in accord with Truth, God, and any suggestion of the kind is repelled by the alert Christian Scientist as merely a suggestion of false mortal mind to divert his thinking from the true path. Demonstration of the true sense of duty brings with it a fuller demonstration of man as the true idea of God which includes health, joy, abundance, and protection.

Christ Jesus said (Matt. 6:35), "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." That "all these things shall be added," is mentioned as a result of this seeking, but is not a part of the primary command. Duty must therefore be performed for its own sake, for the reason that it is a demand of Principle, Man, the true idea of God, can no more be separated from the joyous understanding and complete performance of duty than he can be separated from the correct understanding of Principle, for understanding and performance are identical in Mind.

This action of Mind is not something to be accomplished in the future, but rather is it that which already is, for such action manifests infinite being. The understanding and consciousness of divine Life and its activity means living in its highest sense. "And of his kingdom [the kingdom of Life within us] there shall be no end."

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