Article November 14, 1964 Issue

Disciplined Enthusiasm

LAO ANNE SPALL

What a glorious and satisfying experience it is to feel God's presence and love for His children, to have gained at least a glimpse of God's expansive spiritual universe! What enthusiasm and joy we express after such an awakening experience! We may become so enthusiastic because of our own sense of inspiration that we, perhaps unknowingly, tend to be impatient or intrude on the progress of others.

Enthusiasm may be a happy and contagious quality; however, if it is to be constructive, it must be motivated by Spirit and be deep-seated enough to express insight, wisdom, and love. After all, is not the basis of true animation the feeling that we are grounded in God's love? Then let us bring a depth of spiritual love into each step of progress heavenward.

In our church work, as well as in our business affairs and social relations, we are sometimes tempted to influence others regarding particular situations with what may well be our highest sense of right and our enthusiasm for it. However, such enthusiasm may present a negative sense of zeal and manifest the symptoms Mrs. Eddy warns of in the second part of the definition of "zeal" on page 599 of Science and Health. The definition reads: "The reflected animation of Life, Truth, and Love. Blind enthusiasm; mortal will."

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