Editorial January 13, 1968 Issue

Flexibility of Thought

William Milford Correll

One of the cherished qualities often found in children is their teachableness, or their flexibility of thought. Many of the new methods of teaching in schools find ready acceptance among those who have not previously been taught and who for this reason have little resistance to innovation. Mrs. Eddy says, "Children are more tractable than adults, and learn more readily to love the simple verities that will make them happy and good."^{Science and Health, p. 236;}

Jesus also commented on this same element of thought and indicated that we may not enter the kingdom of heaven except we become as little children. With such instruction on the advisability of being flexible and teachable, what can we do as adults to cultivate such an attitude of thought? One could gain nothing by attempting to turn back the clock, and certainly Jesus required no impossible feat. He included in his own teachings the way of redemption from every erroneous trait. He taught the way of meekness, humility, and self-immolation.

Prayer is one of the methods by which we may cultivate these graces of Spirit. A true sense of prayer demands that we learn to yield up human opinions, self-will, and educated false beliefs. It requires a readiness to listen and be guided, to change easily, to respond directly, and to be steadfast in a new path. Christ Jesus often referred to God as his Father, and he was quite conscious of his own position as the child of God, or the Son of God. His prayers were simple declarations of the allness of God and of man's relation to Him. In his thinking there was nothing to resist the reflected glory of the Father.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

I have had many proofs of the healing power of the Christ