Contributing and writing are commonly assumed to define the same process when referring to an individual's expression in print. It might be helpful, however, for us to consider them as two different things. The difference would be between the spirit and the letter: contributing being the spirit; writing, quite literally, being the letter.

Sometimes certain writings appear to utter themselves without obvious obtrusion of the letter, as can often be seen in the case of works that have deeply moved us. The idea that contributed to the writing becomes active in our being. And if the author's sense of motivation is high, the idea can continue to "contribute" long after the writing has been forgotten.

In Biblical terms we have the example of Moses, whose inspired dedication to the one God, or Spirit, led to the writing of the Ten Commandments. His own personal, physical effort did not alone achieve this.

It is from this premise that the student of Christian Science can begin to define contributing. This Science brings him to see that the primal and only giver of good is God, and that this Principle appears in man, the perfect expression of God, giving him health, harmony, and happiness without measure. Such an ideal was to Jesus the real, which he proved daily in his marvelous life. Christian Scientists as his followers likewise try to contribute on this basis—by expressing God's attributes.

Clearly, on this assumption, writing is only one of the countless channels for contributing. But starting as a contributor (rather than a writer), we should find ourselves using all channels better. We are moved to contribute because we have felt a God-inspired compassion for mankind—not just for ourselves. If that sense of love stopped, impossibly, with ourselves, then assuredly we could not contribute. But with our impulsion to share, the divine idea finds its outlet. We ourselves are shaped into expressing more fully and usefully the needed idea.

Increasingly, as we understand our relationship to God, we are receptive to needed change in ourselves. We are receptive to the impersonal influence of the transforming Christ, the ideal Truth. If apparently reluctant to change, we may be thinking that we ourselves have to bring about improvement in some personal and physical way. With the understanding that God provides for His ideas, our scientific prayer must proportionately overcome inertia and impel change for the better in us and in our contributing.

A vivid illustration of this occurred recently. I had felt that I should contribute an article to the Christian Science periodicals, but I continued to think merely of writing rather than of contributing spiritually. Because of this limited emphasis, inertia set in, until I saw that I had to contribute, not just write. With this improved concept, the immediate result was an article that was accepted.

But this was only the beginning. Within a week of publication, other aspects of my experience began to change. I was asked to write the words of an Easter hymn that was used by different churches in the area. Also within a few days I was approached to undertake reviewing of books within my own professional sphere. A few months later I had scripted a two-act production. In each case I was able to enlarge certain areas previously unthought of, yet within my reach.

By opening my thought more to the concept of God as the giver and doer (rather than of myself as such), I had realized more productively my ability to reflect God's qualities. Mrs. Eddy writes: "Philanthropy is loving, ameliorative, revolutionary; ... it unselfs men and pushes on the ages." ^{The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, pp. 287, 288;} It "pushes on the ages," partly by impelling us to act in broader channels.

Such contributing does not leave us content to work within our sense of limitation, to contribute yesterday's food as a stale offering for tomorrow. It encourages us to work on the frontiers of our spiritual experience, so that each contribution takes us further into freshness, newness, and vitality—a viable contribution that nourishes mankind here and now.

None of this means that we contribute by expecting a formula to appear on a piece of paper. Writing is usually the result of much work and careful training. But we are wise to remember that this work of contributing through writing is fundamentally our daily effort to apply what we are learning of our spiritual identity as God's child.

"The song of Christian Science is, 'Work—work—work—watch and pray,'" ^{Message to The Mother Church for 1900, p. 2;} writes Mrs. Eddy. As this living work shapes our lives more spiritually, more beneficially, so we contribute more pointedly. Writing, of course, must be expressed in words that appear in a certain sequence. Words represent some of the tools, the mechanics of expression. But they will be well chosen and will have power if they are inspired by divine Truth, or God. We may jot down ideas, but there are times when ideas will use us! That is, spiritual ideas will overflow in our thought and lives, impelling us to write—and write well.

The process of being fashioned and fashioning, of contributing and writing, is one way of looking at—working at—Christian discipleship. Mary Baker Eddy says of spiritual growth: "Simply asking that we may love God will never make us love Him; but the longing to be better and holier, expressed in daily watchfulness and in striving to assimilate more of the divine character, will mould and fashion us anew, until we awake in His likeness." ^{Science and Health, p. 4;}

Christ Jesus said, "My words shall not pass away." ^{Mark 13:31.} And they haven't—neither the words nor the God-given inspiration and truth he contributed through them.