As life becomes more complex, individual responsibility for decisions in one's community, regional government, or nation seems to grow more abstract. To skip voting or participating in other activities such as church work, events at school, and candidates' nights can become the norm.

But apathy has never been recommended as the way to humanity's progress. And these days, the demand on individuals for an alert spirituality is very great. The uncovering of the terrorist plots in Germany and Denmark in the last few weeks calls for ongoing prayer. So do changes in the Prime Ministers of Russia and Japan, along with debate about the role of the United States in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East.

"Ignorance of self is the most stubborn belief to overcome, for apathy, dishonesty, sin, follow in its train," wrote Mary Baker Eddy. This statement, from an article called "Watching versus Watching Out," pinpoints the source of apathy (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 233). Ignorance of who we are—the children of God—keeps us from realizing the power for good each of us wields. It may also fool us into thinking that we are primarily material beings whose sole purpose is to achieve personal comfort and happiness. These material pursuits have led people into some dark corners—for example, the continuing turmoil in the US housing market. And that same matter-based apathy can dull the alertness of those responsible for the security of nations.

Uncertainty and dullness may be apathy's friends, but both fall before divine Love's awakening and corrective power. This divine power more than anything else provides real security. Human wisdom can produce data and make recommendations on intelligent courses of action in relation to one's job, family life, or even international issues such as war and peace, and preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. But to understand Love's power frees us from self-ignorance and fear of the future.

No one understood Love and its liberating power better than Christ Jesus. During his ministry, Jesus directly challenged ignorance of self. He was able to lead people such as the dishonest tax collector Zacchaeus into the light of Truth that revealed their actual spiritual nature. One moment with the master Christian put an end to Zacchaeus' assumption that "bribery as usual" was an OK thing. Instead, he accepted the spiritual conviction that his relation to God was more important than personal gain, and vowed to mend his ways.

Jesus taught that our identity isn't defined by the number of things we have, how connected we are politically, or how much education we've got. Rather, he understood that we are defined by Spirit, in spiritual terms. And because Spirit is infinite, this means that we actually live in Spirit and draw our identity from what Spirit is and does. The result is an identity that sparkles, that uplifts and strengthens. That energizes.

As we grasp this fact, the reality of Spirit's presence becomes clearer, and we realize that we don't have to wait for some better time or place, or to search for one. Right now God is caring for us, and this care is evidence of Love's ultimate dominion over evil. It is proof that His kingdom, the harmony of all life, is right at hand. Luke's Gospel explains, "When he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, [Jesus] answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20, 21).

To recognize God's continuing presence as a reality in one's life is to let the power of Love remove the ignorance of self that allows apathy, dishonesty, and deception to fester. It does this not through condemnation but through the revelation of the pure spiritual nature God has given us.

Living in the kingdom of God means caring beyond oneself; it means being anything but apathetic. Love looks outward, embracing all in its wake, and those who know themselves as God's beloved feel compassion for the sufferings of others. Mary Baker Eddy lived this love, working diligently to provide humanity with the Christ Science, which truly can save the world. This Science explains how Jesus taught and tested the fundamental laws of spiritual existence in response to people's great physical and mental needs. For well over 100 years, students of Christian Science have put it to the test and not found it wanting.

As the light of divine Love reveals our spiritual identity, pure and perfect, any attraction to dishonesty and sin begins to lose its appeal. We turn from focus on self and ask, as the Apostle Paul did, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6). That selfless love bursts the bonds of apathy and unleashes the spiritual power for good that lies within each of us. It inspires new ideas, provides courage, flexibility, wisdom, and strength. It can even change the course of the world.

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