An important letter is written, and as much as one might desire to hurry things along, it is necessary to wait calmly until the one to whom the letter is addressed receives it and acts upon it. A child is found to have a talent for music. The parents and relatives must wait a long time before the development of this talent reaches a point where it is utilized to good advantage. Yet, if they are wise, they wait calmly and patiently, being careful not to hinder the instructors but to use every opportunity to encourage and assist in keeping the bright flame of interest and ambition glowing.

When a small business is started, everything is not dropped through discouragement after a short period of few or no results. Of course not. The only wise attitude is to look to divine Mind for guidance and prepare oneself for opportunities in accordance with such leading.

Into our experience come many periods of waiting—waiting after we have worked long and hopefully, waiting when it seems that every right step has been taken, waiting while others have seemed to progress rapidly. "Why does it still take more time for the results of our labors and prayers to appear?" is a usual, agonizing question. Waiting may have seemed difficult and long, and the temptation may come to let the goal fade and the efforts languish or, by unwise zeal, to push the conclusion before the natural process of growth takes place.

Christ Jesus taught spiritual lessons with parables, lessons that reached deep into human problems. In one of them he spoke of bringing "forth fruit with patience." ^{Luke 8:15;} He called attention to the good ground in which a certain sower sowed seed, good ground in which the seed became highly productive. The Master said that this ground typified those who "in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."

During every waiting period it is necessary that the law of God be obeyed, that false, material beliefs of temptation, weariness, discouragement, apathy, or envy be allowed no foothold in consciousness to choke the growth of spiritual understanding and demonstration. The law of God demands honesty, justice, mercy, consideration, obedience to the Golden Rule; these are the qualities that make for fruitful productivity. Right thinking is essential during the unfolding of any plan if one would help the plan succeed. This is dynamic waiting.

Christian Science teaches definitely that periods of waiting must be profitably employed. One can always grow in his understanding of God's complete control of the universe and man. Often when the orderly procedure of any plan has reached a certain point, the plan must be left to unfold from divine Mind. But the fires of expectancy and trust must be constantly tended.

Mrs. Eddy states: "Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept. Patience must 'have her perfect work.'" ^{Science and Health, p. 454;} Again she asks, "When the patient corn waits on the elements to put forth its slender blade, construct the stalk, instruct the ear, and crown the full corn in the ear,—then, are mortals looking up, waiting on God, and committing their way unto Him who tosses earth's mass of wonders into their hands?" ^{Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 330, 331;}

Periods of waiting can be fraught with the unfolding of most heartening and uplifting ideas. One has only to cease looking back at what has seemed to be a much too slow demonstration and realize that the eternal now of God's real, spiritual universe is always new, brand new, every sparkling moment! It almost seems to shout, "Now are new opportunities, new hope, new joy, new gratitude, new understanding of divine Love."

In Revelation we are told, "He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new." ^{Rev. 21:5.} Note the present tense—"make," not "made" or "will make." Now is the time to rejoice that all things are in God's hands and that He surely does perform those things which He has appointed for us. In the truth of infinite being nothing is ever really too late, too soon, too good, too bad, too far or too close, too much or too little. Only material human belief testifies to such incongruities. God's plan for man and God's unfoldment of that plan are forever perfectly synchronized, never too anything. All is in perfect stability. Supply is always equal to demand, and the demand is always the spiritual demand of the one Mind, God; hence, it is always good demand.

Christian Science requires progress along proper lines, the taking of necessary human footsteps, right activity. This denotes continuous right thinking, intelligent, active faith in God and His constant care, alert resistance to temptations of fear, doubt, or anxiety. One can rest assured during such a dynamic interim of waiting that through a faithful reflection of God he is expunging from his consciousness that which needs to be eliminated. Expressing Mind, God, destroys ignorance, deception, and confusion. Expressing Soul destroys sorrow, impurity, and lack. Reflecting Spirit destroys material sense, finity, and disunity. In like manner all lawlessness, injustice, apathy, bondage, and hate can be progressively eliminated. Such is the forever work of God's irresistible law of good, continuously bringing out the harmonious and immutable phases of all things.

Yes, we can put all waiting on the credit side of life's ledger as we are humble, sincere, and honest, and as we strive to attain our higher selfhood—that real, spiritual selfhood that is the expression of God. Our willingness in accepting Christ, Truth, and our obedience in endeavoring to put this Truth into practice attest to the richness of our ground. Patience will "have her perfect work"; the yield will be sixtyfold, an hundredfold, and more!