Article May 7, 1949 Issue

No rush, no overcrowding, for the one controlled by the rhythm of eternity

OVERCOMING LACK OF TIME

[Original article in German]

ILSE STEUERNAGEL

Do all students of Christian Science really know what an invaluable guide they have in the weekly Lesson-Sermon contained in the Christian Science Quarterly? Are they truly grateful for this beneficent provision? Is it clear to each one that the daily study of the Lesson-Sermon is one means of protection from aggressive mental suggestion, against which our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, so emphatically states in the Church Manual (Art. VIII, Sect. 6) that it is our duty each day to defend ourselves? Does it sometimes happen that we forget or neglect a part of our duty in this direction by omitting to study the Lesson-Sermon?

The voice of error often plausibly says: "You cannot sit down and read quietly this morning with so much to do. You must get up and get to work. There will be plenty of time for reading when everything else is done." However, at noon perhaps still more work has piled up, and our reading of the Lesson is postponed until evening. But even then there are duties remaining, and when it is time to retire for the night, we tell ourselves that we are so tired that reading, to say nothing of studying, is out of the question. We are forced to admit with shame that on this day we have neglected part of our duty.

One young student of Christian Science was repeatedly beset by this suggestion. However, she recognized it as coming from the one enemy, for she saw that through her neglect of study she was becoming more, not less, involved in that material sense of existence from which she was endeavoring to emerge. She felt mentally disturbed, lacking the joy and peace which accompany the consciousness of divine reality. Accordingly, she determined to let nothing interfere with her faithful study of the Lesson, regardless of the aggressive suggestions of error. She endeavored to begin to prove her fidelity at once by devoting the quiet early morning hours to the study of Science. The ensuing rewards were so great as to be surprising.

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