Article August 23, 1982 Issue

A stressful life? Put the accent on peace

MARY BRETZ REED

Two taxicab drivers in a city can face similar trying circumstances, and yet each may end his day with opposite feelings. One may have become so frustrated and jittery because of the snarled traffic and thoughtless drivers that he returns home a menace to his family as well as himself. The other may see interesting sights as he waits, keep abreast of the news, make pleasant conversation with riders, and enjoy sharing some of the day's events with his family.

What's the difference? It would seem that one driver has a more constructive outlook than the other and knows that reacting to annoyances or stress accomplishes little. Yet while such a positive attitude under stressful conditions is helpful, it cannot guarantee genuine or lasting peace. Sometimes even the person who enjoys working under pressure finds the frustrations and complexities of daily life exceeding his limits of endurance. Clearly more than just a positive approach to life is needed.

To be truly lasting, peace must be based on an inner conviction that harmony is the basic reality of existence, and that any apparent violation of this fact can be corrected by understanding and demonstrating the Science of God and man. This Science, brought to light in the late nineteenth century by Mary Baker Eddy, establishes the fact that God, the one perfect Mind of the universe, including man, creates and governs all in order, beauty, and wisdom. To the degree that we relinquish personal opinions and material concepts and acknowledge the presence of this divine order, harmony embraces our human affairs. Our part is to move in accord with this order by consistently claiming every one of God's qualities as our own, refusing with Christly ardor their counterfeits, and then, moment by moment, demonstrating our possession of these attributes, such as intelligence, integrity, peace, stability, love. When put to practical use, these ever-present qualities will impel us in more orderly, calm, and wise ways, helping to remove the strain and frustration from our daily activities.

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Heart's ease
August 23, 1982
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