Article September 11, 1954 Issue

MAKING ACHIEVEMENT POSSIBLE

HAROLD M. TUKESBURY

"The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible," we read on page 199 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. In our daily experience and progress in Christian Science, we learn that we are not first of all dealing with material conditions and processes, but with thought. Therefore, the answer to any problem lies not primarily in the changing of conditions or in the evolution of certain material processes, but in the spiritualization of our thought.

Christian Science starts with the oneness and allness of Mind, God. Mind expresses itself through ideas, and these ideas have always existed in infinite Mind. As God, Spirit, is all-inclusive, so man, God's highest idea, reflects or expresses the all-inclusiveness of Deity. Thus man includes every right idea by reflection. All the intelligence, wisdom, freedom, and enlightenment of divine Mind is manifested through man.

While Mrs. Eddy recognized the value of academics insofar as they promote study and original thought, she also realized that "Mind is not necessarily dependent upon educational processes" (ibid., p. 89). The paragraph in which this sentence appears has the marginal heading, "Scientific improvisation." Under this heading our Leader also makes the point that "we are all capable of more than we do." Spiritualization of thought brings inspiration and enlightenment and enlarges our concept of man's natural abilities and possibilities as God's idea. As the Old Testament writer put it (Job 32: 8), "There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Poem
JEWELED MOMENTS
September 11, 1954
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit