Article November 23, 1981 Issue

Be perfect...not behind

For the convenience of some readers we will occasionally print an article in large type.

BEVERLY ANN HAWLEY

Many times we seem to be running behind before we even begin the day. Behind with work, bills, or schoolwork, and faced with constant interruptions! This whispering of mortal thought would divert us from the things that are in front of us to do. Distracting us from the good that lies before us, error would begin to fill our day with impatience, tension, anxiety, doubt, and hopelessness.

After feeling "I'm running behind" a number of times one day, I suddenly realized that it wasn't right to accept such an attitude. Then this statement by Mrs. Eddy came to thought: "Christian Science is absolute; it is neither behind the point of perfection nor advancing towards it; it is at this point and must be practised therefrom. Unless you fully perceive that you are the child of God, hence perfect, you have no Principle to demonstrate and no rule for its demonstration." ^{The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 242.} Accepting the suggestion of "being behind" is taking in the claim that man is not perfect and that one's actions are not governed by Principle, God. Man as God's expression is perfect, and perfection is ours to learn and to prove. Among other things, to be perfect means to possess all that naturally belongs to one, to be complete.

Our Way-shower, Christ Jesus, instructed each of us, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." ^{Matt. 5:48.} God-given qualities belong to us naturally: patience, clearsightedness, humility, orderliness, receptivity, and alertness. We can demonstrate the patience to deal with each event lovingly—with a sense of healing and the clearsightedness to trust an angel thought. Meekness and humility can show us how to do things according to God's way, instead of stubbornly holding on to preconceived plans. Orderliness indicates the right steps. Receptivity and alertness enable us to recognize opportunities. Because man is spiritual, inseparable from his perfect Father-Mother God, we can claim and demonstrate man's God-given ability and dominion.