Article July 10, 1948 Issue

STAY OFF THE PLAIN OF ONO

MAX DUNAWAY

An effective way to silence every suggestion that would tempt us to halt a good work and descend to the level of doubt and fear is found in Nehemiah's attitude toward his adversaries. You will remember that after earnest prayer for divine assistance he had begun to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in order to make the city secure again from its foes. When Sanballat and Geshem, his adversaries, had unsuccessfully endeavored to prevent the conclusion of the work, they hit upon chicanery. "Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono," they coaxed (Neh. 6:2).

How significant the wording of the ill-intentioned scheme when regarded in the light of spiritual contemplation! Had Nehemiah acceded to their nefarious proposal, he would have descended to the plane of negative thought, and the good work he had undertaken would have been abandoned. But four times Nehemiah sent them the same message: "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" He was not deceived by the subtlety of his enemies. Not only did he refuse to come down to the plain of Ono, but he did not cease from his work until the gates were swung into their places and guards had been appointed. Even in victory Nehemiah was vigilant.

In the midst of some good work are we tempted to come down to the plain of Ono? Does error say to us, "You cannot succeed by relying radically on God"? If so, like Nehemiah, we must utterly repudiate this lying suggestion and refuse to parley with mortal mind. We must not halt our good work and drop to the plane of negative thinking, questioning the wisdom of continuing what God has impelled us to do. Instead of wasting our time in this manner, we should profitably use it in demonstrating that when we stand firmly with God, success in a right endeavor is inevitable. In the words of our wise Leader, Mary Baker Eddy (Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 276, 277): "In the dark hours, wise Christian Scientists stand firmer than ever in their allegiance to God. Wisdom is wedded to their love, and their hearts are not troubled."

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