Overcoming Hurry

GLENN E. DOUGLAS

A STUDENT of Christian Science was hastily, yet ineffectually, striving to perform newly assigned tasks, when his supervisor stepped over to where he was working and said: "Don't hurry. Hurry is an I-don't-trust-God method." The student gratefully and obediently accepted the loving rebuke, and prayerfully turned to divine Mind for wisdom. He saw that others were working with calm, not tense, efficiency. Could he not do likewise? Evidently his hurried sense was caused by fear that he could not complete his share of the work within the apparently limited time available.

A more scientific comprehension of the nature of time and a firmer trust in God as the source of all real activity were seen to be requisite. As these were attained, he became more alert. Many unnecessary motions were abandoned, and he was soon able to perform his tasks with some measure of the calm efficiency he had admired in his coworkers.

In searching for enlightening passage in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," he studied carefully the definitions of "time," "day," and "year" as given therein by Mrs. Eddy, and realized that time, as commonly understood, is a false concept of mortal mind, seemingly necessary in the regulation of human affairs but unknown to the great I AM; and that, as Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 584), "Mind measures time according to the good that is unfolded."

The question presented itself, If time is unreal, why does the Bible describe creation as taking place in six days? This was answered in Mrs. Eddy's words (ibid., p. 504), "The successive appearing of God's ideas is represented as taking place on so many evenings and mornings,—words which indicate, in the absence of solar time, spiritually clearer views of Him." God's perfect creation has always existed, but the progressive perception of creation by human consciousness is metaphorically expressed in terms of ascending periods of revelation, culminating with the appearing of man—Mind's highest idea. So, in our work there should be a continuous expression of the orderly unfoldment of spiritual ideas. The student recognized that in his own experience little was accomplished during periods of strenuous activity, when he was blinded by fear or other forms of materiality; whereas much was accomplished within seemingly short spaces of time when he was spiritually receptive and obedient.

He also realized that there is an abundance of spiritual ideas present and available for use in the solution of each problem, omnipresent Mind being their source. He therefore turned to the divine Mind with an open heart, knowing that. as our Leader tells us (ibid., p. 506), "Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear."

The petals of a beautiful rose open in a harmonious, orderly manner. They cannot be forced by impatient mortal methods. We have our work to do in our mental gardens. We can prepare the soil by breaking up the hard incrustations of such mortal beliefs as habitual hurry and other limiting thoughts, allowing the fresh, calm sunlight of Truth to increase our receptivity to the nourishing thoughts coming from divine Mind. We can enrich our thinking with love, and guard against the blighting influences of fear, doubt, or evil suggestions. Above all, we can and must know that God, being omnipotent, governs all that is real, and that there is no power to interfere with His wise and perfect government.

This scientific husbandry of his thinking, conscientiously pursued, clarified the student's thoughts, destroyed fear, and developed an abiding trust in God. The result was that his human affairs became more orderly; the extremes of unnecessary rush and wasteful delay were eliminated; ideas unfolded as needed; erroneous conditions were corrected; and more of the government by divine Principle was experienced. "A day in thy courts is better than a thousand."

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