The Vitality of an Idea

The world cannot overestimate its debt to those who, in any line of research, endure "unto the end." Their "footprints on the sands of time" assure those who come after them that the multitudinous ideas of Mind have an inherent vitality which inspires all those who are identified with their unfoldment in human consciouness.

The daily papers tell the sad story of the recent passing on of an inventor when he was seeking to bring to successful completion a daring experiment in navigation. The incident recalls the experiences of many brave men who have striven to liberate themselves and others from the limitations which are incident to a material sense of existence, the pathetic and inspiring experiences of those who have discerned new ideas and made them practical.

In the unfoldment of a new idea, whatever the nature of the discovery which leads away from the beaten path, the experiments necessary to its demonstration are usually fraught with difficulty and danger. The belief in material law, like an insurmountable wall of rock, seems to bar the way to progress, and the discoverer must challenge the popular sense of the authority of processes which have long passed current as laws. Then there is often a long and lonely period of experimentation, attended by self-sacrifice and privation, and when at length the discovery is offered to the world, there is doubt and incredulity on the part of friends, and cruel mockery, if not actual persecution from the public whom it would benefit. It sometimes happens, too, that at the first sign of assured success, a dishonest claimant comes forward to demand another's hard-won reward.

In our text-book we are encouraged to "so improve material belief as to destroy it, by thought-germs tending spiritually upward" (Science and Health, p. 545). Thus shall we learn that all right ideas give life to the one who apprehends their spiritual origin, and it is this which has sustained all truly great men and women, and enabled them, like St. Paul, to endure "necessities" "distresses," "stripes," "imprisonments," "labors," "watchings," "fastings;" and this, too, through "evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true."

In Christian Science we learn that all true ideas have their origin in the divine Mind. The Bible declares man's birthright to be dominion, and Christian Science teaches that the divine ideas which emanate from "nature's God" are all united in one Principle, and their recognition and unfoldment tend to establish and maintain this dominion in human consciousness. This was proved by the great Teacher who stilled the sea, walked the waves, healed the sick and the sinful, and raised the dead by his understanding of spiritual law. With this understanding the difficulties which attend the giving of a new idea to the world are lessened, and in time overcome; and what is of yet higher importance, our dependence upon the protection of spiritual law is shown to us. In our Leader's wonderful definition of man, she says, "He is the compound idea of God, including all right ideas" (Science and Health, p. 475). The world feels this as never before, but its need is to know it scientifically and spiritually, for thus alone can ideas be seen in their relation to divine Principle, and to man's unfoldment and dominion.

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