Article May 20, 1996 Issue

Fast food and a quick fix?

Sandra M. Clark

If you travel from one city to another in the United States today, you often see the same gas stations, stores, and fast-food places. Things seem to be set up to get you on your way as quickly as possible. While such convenience may help travelers, in one of my moments of solitude I asked myself, Have I been putting myself in a fast lane where spiritual growth is concerned? Do I approach spiritual inspiration as though it came from a fast-food chain? Do I read quickly through the Bible Lesson outlined in the Christian Science Quarterly, then rush into another day's activities, feeling I have satisfied my immediate need?

Words in Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy have stimulated my thought about these questions in fresh ways: "Through repentance, spiritual baptism, and regeneration, mortals put off their material beliefs and false individuality" (p. 242).

I decided to do some in-depth study of these ideas as well as some further self-examination, starting with the word repentance. One definition of repent is to change one's mind about some past intention. That was what was beginning to happen when I questioned myself about taking part in a never-ending cycle of run here, run there, move fast, fast, fast. I saw that I must change my intentions and return to acknowledging God, the one Mind, as the source of my life. It is the demonstration of my real being as God's reflection that will show forth my true individuality. I accomplish this by putting off material beliefs about man's nature and purpose.

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