Article November 8, 1975 Issue

Mind's Business: Your Employment

LINDA ANNE GRIDLEY

Christ Jesus' parable of the talents illustrates the poverty of letting our abilities go wasted, and the rich reward of actively employing them. See Matt. 25:14–30 ; Our abilities must enlarge as we use them, and in enlarging them we find our outlook and activities enlarging. This growth is in line with a statement by Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health, "God expresses in man the infinite idea forever developing itself, broadening and rising higher and higher from a boundless basis." Science and Health, p. 258;

I was once forced to make a change in career plans that made the future seem joyless, unexciting, and uncertain. Feeling that I must make the best of the situation, I obtained a temporary job that required few skills—hoping to at least be of service even if I was not entirely happy. However, as a student of Christian Science I had learned that one circumstance or another cannot of itself make one happy or unhappy. The following line from Science and Health came to thought: "The talents He gives we must improve." ibid., p. 6. In light of this I began to think of the qualities, or talents, I could express right in the midst of this outwardly uninteresting job. Patience was one. Accuracy another. Care another. I concentrated on doing the job just as well as I could, expressing these God-derived qualities as consistently as possible, especially in times of discouragement. As I continued I found myself happier with my work and was assigned tasks requiring more and more of my talents. I almost regretted the loss of the old tasks, which I had begun to enjoy. I found a reward in discovering new talents, including a freedom and strength in physical activities that I had never known before.

This kind of improvement is available to anyone who is willing to view his employment more scientifically, no matter what his occupation. But what if you are unemployed? Perhaps you find yourself with obsolete skills, or you have talent but no one is giving you a chance, or you feel you have very little talent to start with.

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