Article January 25, 1969 Issue

Lip Service—or Fervent Petition?

KATHERINE ANNE LYDER STOFFEL

There is a story that in the early days of television an actor was hired to give a commercial for a well-known television set. This was before the time of filmed or taped commercials, and so the actor was required to repeat from memory the highly technical advantages of the set. He memorized the material perfectly, but because he had learned to say it by rote, without understanding, he went on the air and completely forgot all he had memorized. For an instant the panic on his face was televised into thousands of homes. It looked as though his message wouldn't get across.

Then the actor saved himself by some quick thinking. He mouthed words, made his hands pantomime various features of the set, and home viewers, used to temporary lapses on their television sets, were convinced that he was still selling.

When a Christian Scientist is confronted with a crisis, he does not panic. He doesn't stand around doing nothing, hoping that everything will come out all right. But neither does he merely make his lips move. He doesn't just repeat phrases. He prays; he works with ideas. He uses his knowledge of the relationship of God and man as practiced by Christ Jesus and taught in Christian Science. He understands that God is infinite good, and that man, His image and likeness, expresses infinite good.

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Lip Service—or Fervent Petition?

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