Article February 4, 1950 Issue

DOING OUR BEST

ELLA H. HAY

"He did his best" is often said in recognition of faithful service or in justification of failure or mediocrity in some endeavor. But the Christian Scientist knows that he does his best only as he watches his thinking and prays faithfully and expectantly for an understanding of God which enables him to demonstrate divine Principle in daily experience. The highest achievement is the realization of the allness of God and the consequent nothingness of evil. Mary Baker Eddy in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," writes (p. 428), "To divest thought of false trusts and material evidences in order that the spiritual facts of being may appear,—this is the greatattainment by means of which we shall sweep away the false and give place to the true."

Our understanding of perfect God and perfect man is enhanced by steadfast adherence to the reality of good and the unreality of error. Mrs. Eddy writes (ibid., p. 466): "Truth is limitless; error is limited. Truth is intelligent; error is non-intelligent. Morever, Truth is real, and error is unreal. This last statement contains the point you will most reluctantly admit, although first and last it is the most important to understand." To apprehend this point which our Leader designates "most important" calls for humility, consecration, and purification of thought.

A Christian Scientist who was striving to solve a problem which seemed to be tenacious found himself mentally repeating, parrotlike, "I have done my best." Immediately he recognized the error of his thinking. "I have not done my best," he declared, "or I should have proved the reality of good and the unreality of evil." This awakened him, and it was not long before the problem was solved.

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