Physical and mental energy, controlled by human will power, is a tyrant which enslaves the individual. It is a blind, stubborn force like the proverbial bull in the china shop. Controlled by wisdom it can be turned into useful channels and serve the purposes of good. The Apostle Peter furnishes an interesting example of how human energy is turned into useful channels. In the early years of his discipleship Peter was evidently guided largely by what is known as a warm heart easily influenced by the impulse of the moment.

One day he declared that he would give up all that he had to follow Jesus in the way; the next day he denied that he knew him. At the time of the Master's betrayal Peter forcibly and impulsively cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest and was rebuked by Jesus for this display of animal courage. In subsequent years, the great energy which possessed Peter yielded to the power of the Christ, and he became one of the world's leading Christian reformers.

Christian Science has the answer to the question of how to guide and control the abundant energies of children and others who are driven by the unbridled force of the physical and mental energy of mortal mind. In her book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 201), "The way to extract error from mortal mind is to pour in truth through flood-tides of Love." Thus we see that the driving force of mortal mind is controlled through the education of human consciousness in the things of Spirit.

The power of the Christ recognized as ever present is the destroyer of every false claim of animal power. Mrs. Eddy writes (ibid.,) "Passions, selfishness, false appetites, hatred, fear, all sensuality, yield to spirituality, and the superabundance of being is on the side of God, good."

Anyone can identify himself with this great power of the Christ— with the expression of God's spiritual nature—and exercise control over every false claim of mortal mind, of human will, or animal propensities. Dependence on material force, animal spirits, personal attraction, wears the individual out and fails him in moments of need. The belief in human personality leads to mad ambition, competition, depletion, and defeat. But the acknowledgment, cultivation, and exercise of spirituality in daily prayer and practice equip one with poise, security, co-ordination, and spiritual energy, which outweigh all of the animal power in the world.

At this point it may be well to consider the effect of the unfoldment and power conferred by the cultivation of spiritual energy on those who feel that they are weak, colorless, and lacking in the vital qualities of manhood. Let them recall our Leader's references to Florence Nightingale and to others who, while engaged in unselfish humane endeavors, devoted long hours to labor and to perform tasks deemed impossible to men.

To all who are shackled with the false beliefs either of lack of power or of superabundant animal force come the comforting words of Jesus (Matt. 11:29): "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." The Christ speaks to us today: Take my yoke upon you! Submit yourselves to the guidance and control of spirituality. Let the ever-present power of God supply you with the divine energies of Spirit and replace with the qualities of true manhood the false claims of material personality, whether strong or weak. "Learn of me." said Jesus, "... for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Both the career of Christ Jesus and the work of his devoted follower, Mrs. Eddy, stand out as beacons to all who are struggling with the false beliefs of human personality. Certainly neither of these great characters could be called weak or colorless, aggressive or humanly overpowering. They were spiritually-minded. They demonstrated daily the supreme healing power of the Christ, and the compelling, spiritual force and perfect nature of the true man, equipped with the divine energies of Spirit.

The ultimate power is divine Love, which makes all things possible, and without which nothing can exist. This power gives man dominion over all. Our Leader writes (Science and Health, p. 249): "Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life and recognizing no mortal nor material power as able to destroy. Let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine 'powers that be.' Such is the true Science of being. Any other theory of Life, or God, is delusive and mythological."

Harold Molter