Article March 5, 2012 Issue

Life isn't a competition

Lona Ingwerson

In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy quoted the following verse from Hebrews: “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (12:1). She explained the meaning of this passage as, “let us put aside material self and sense, and seek the divine Principle and Science of all healing” (p. 20).

We progress more quickly when we discard whatever mental baggage we’ve been carrying around. A spiritual quest is more easily met by dumping the material beliefs, suggestions, and fears that we needlessly carry.

Whenever I think of a race, I recall something said by our son, Marshall, who ran track in high school. When he arrived home from a meet one afternoon, I asked him where he placed. I’ll never forget his answer. He said: “Mom, don’t ask me where I placed. Ask me what my time was. I’m not competing to beat others; I’m competing to improve my own time.”

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