Article September 7, 1974 Issue

The Joy of Steady Progress

ALFRED MARSHALL VAUGHN

Progress Spiritward is natural because the only real power, the only genuine cause, is Spirit, divine Mind. There is no material mind, no mortal mind, to keep one from true progress. Mind, Spirit, causes us to be increasingly aware of the spiritual as the real.

Divine Mind is continually imparting the spiritual sense of being. Often dwelling upon this fact and actively expressing divine Love and Life, we open the door of our thought and find we greatly desire to progress. Then we are inspired to work metaphysically and prayerfully to offset anything hindering our advance Spiritward.

We can be greatly helped by something Paul said, and by a statement of Mrs. Eddy's. From Paul: "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."^{Phil. 2:13;} And from Mrs. Eddy: "It is the purpose of divine Love to resurrect the understanding, and the kingdom of God, the reign of harmony already within us."^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 154;} There seems to be something opposing good, something that would keep one from being better. In Christian Science this seeming power is called animal magnetism, the seeming pull toward materiality and evil. But where could a power like this come from? Not from infinite, omnipotent Mind, from Truth and Love. Therefore it has no real existence or activity.