Article January 17, 1953 Issue

PROGRESS, A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE

W. BURTON WEBSTER

Every right-thinking person wants to progress; indeed, progress is the inexorable law of God. True progress is not to be measured in terms of money, in an accumulation of material goods, in luxury, or in idleness. It is evidenced rather in happier and freer thinking, in growth in the understanding of God, divine Mind. True progress is a spiritual experience and is attained through the development of spiritual qualities.

Let us consider some of the qualities which make for progress. Perhaps nowhere in the Bible have they been so succinctly stated as in the second epistle of Peter (1:5—7): "Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."

One of the qualities which forward progress is willingness. Mary Baker Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 118), "The guerdon of meritorious faith or trustworthiness rests on being willing to work alone with God and for Him,— willing to suffer patiently for error until all error is destroyed and His rod and His staff comfort you." Willingness includes obedience. Excluding human will and conforming our desires and personal inclinations to divine Principle, God, we become willing, trustful, and obedient. Waiting on God, we avoid false moves.

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