Editorial March 10, 1956 Issue

EXPECTATION SPEEDS PROGRESS

Harold Molter

The word expectation in Science means confidence, trust, anticipation of good only. But this true sense of expectation requires more than sitting idly by and waiting for something to come to us. Active expectation requires the individual to work consistently toward the desired goal, trusting God to guide his every thought, desire, and footstep into paths of righteous living. Some time ago an experienced swimmer watched a boy who was practicing swimming. To help the boy improve his speed, he said to him, "Every time you take a stroke reach out as though you were touching the goal, as though you were at the end of your race."

Our Leader gives a scientific statement bringing out the important point of expectation in relationship to progress when she writes (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 426): "The discoverer of Christian Science finds the path less difficult when she has the high goal always before her thoughts, than when she counts her footsteps in endeavoring to reach it. When the destination is desirable, expectation speeds our progress."

The Apostle James wrote (5:7), "Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain." When the farmer prepares the soil and plants the seed, he does so with the expectation that he will have a rich harvest. But his responsibility does not stop at that point. He watches the field, takes steps to ward off insects and other pests, cultivates the soil around his young plants, and supplies them with water. Work and watchfulness and prayer, together with expectation of reaching the desired goal, speed our progress in all walks of life.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

EXPECTATION SPEEDS PROGRESS

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access