Editorial April 30, 1977 Issue

Motive-power to Get Things Done

Naomi Price

A deadline helps some people finish a task; the need to earn money to feed the family is an incentive to others to deliver a product on time; a watchful parent may stir up enough activity in a child for homework to be completed. Where there is no such human stimulus to impel one to get things done, however, a state of stagnation sometimes sets in, accompanied often by a mounting sense of frustration and self-contempt. For who can respect an individual—even if the individual is himself—who displays so little evidence of possessing the virile qualities of the divine Mind needed to get done whatever needs to be done?

Yet everyone has these qualities and should know that he is able to use them anywhere at any time. There is nobody in all the universe who cannot claim for himself whatever motive-power he needs—who has not the ability to express such characteristics as patience, promptness, concentration, and discipline, which will result in satisfying accomplishment. The power to accomplish is not derived from human will but from God. Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health, "Christian Science reveals Truth and Love as the motive-powers of man."^{ Science and Health, p. 490;}

The real man created by God embodies all the qualities of the divine nature—of Life, Truth, Mind, Spirit, Soul, divine Principle, and Love. Some of these qualities are figuratively represented in the Bible's first chapter. They are symbolized by different kinds of beasts of the land, air, and ocean and are easily identified in the account of spiritual creation. Mrs. Eddy explains them in the Christian Science textbook, showing, for example, that the mental realm is ruled by moral courage—symbolized by the lion. She points to strength—the great whales; to aspirations—the fowls of the air; to patience—the tireless worm.^{ See ibid., pp. 511—515;} And she says: "In the figurative transmission from the divine thought to the human, diligence, promptness, and perseverance are likened to 'the cattle upon a thousand hills.' They carry the baggage of stern resolve, and keep pace with highest purpose."^{ ibid., p. 514;}

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Motive-power to Get Things Done

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access