The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-12-01
Inventory

IA a merchant or business man
4 n usually makes list of his
stock of merchandise in order to OBJ
tain definite information as to the
actual worth of his business. The
process is called an inventory of mer-
chandise. The thoughtful merchant
does not attempt to deceive himself
into believing that all the merchan-
disc on his shelves is worth what he
paid for it, and so he culls out the
worthless stock, marks down what
ever is shopworn, and adjusts his
gains and losses accordingly. Thus
he commences the new year with q
balance sheet of correct values.
This question of correct values
sooner or later confronts all man
kind; and, like the business man,
every individual who is eager C. adj
vance in the right direction will take
account of his personal stock by
making a careful analysis of his spir-
itual, mental, and moral condition.
He will devote himself resolutely to
the task of eliminating from his
storehouse of thinking whatever is
undesirable or destructive to health,
holiness, and success, and seek to re-
place it with that which will bring
peace and happiness not only to him
self but to all upon whom his
thoughts may rest.
While a business man may take
stock only once or twice during the
year, in the textbook of Christian Sci
ence, Science and Health with Key
to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker
Eddy, we read (p. 1881: Every day
makes it's demands upon us for high
er proofs rather than professions of
Christian power. These proofs con-
sist solely in the destruction of sin,
sickness, and death by the power of
Spirit, as Jesus destroyed them. This
is an element of progress, and pro-
gress is the law of God, whose law
demands of us only what we can GER
tainly fulfill"
Necessarily we must progress, since
that is Gods law. Then if that law,
the law of divine Love, demands of
us what we can fulfill, we need not
hesitate, or even be in doubt, for no
problem is too difficult for true
understanding of Mind to solve, and
no error too subtle for Truth to I'M
cover. It is our part simply to be
obedient to Gods behest and to re-
linquish in thought, as fast as prac-
teal, aught that is unloving, selfish,
unkind, dishonest, and impure.
The merchant, in going through
his shelves, may find an accumula-
ton of "dead stock" or worthless
merchandise; and, again, he may find
hidden away many articles of value
which he did not know were there.
He discards the unworthy and brings
the good to the front, having placed
a proper estimate upon them. And
In order to supply the demands of his
customers he is ready to secure more
merchandise of good quality.
Many times in her writings Mrs.
Eddy alludes to the parable of the
tares and the wheat. On page III
of Miscellaneous Writings" for in
stance, she says, "The student Of
Christian Science must first separate
the tares from the wheat; discern
between the thought, motive, and act
superinduced by the wrong motive or
the true-the God-given intent and
volition-arrest the former, and obey
the latter"
must make a determined effort to
eliminate the tares, erroneous
thoughts, such as fear, anxiety, re-
sentiment, self-will, criticism, and
host of other useless beliefs that
should have been discarded long ago,
and tenderly cherish the wheat, good
thoughts, such as love, courage, kind
ness. unselfishness, forgiveness, and
kindly consideration of others, conf
dent that his stock taking will show
balance on the right side.
One of the tares to be exterminat-
ed is a false sense of responsibility,
When we realize that all RESPONSE
bility belongs to God and that we can
reflect divine wisdom and power, we
are freed from anxiety, fear, and
worry. Trust in the Lord with all
thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding. In all thy ways
acknowledge him, and he shall direct
thy paths" The REIMBURSEMENT of
fear and discomfort is possible only
as the assurance is gained that God,
divine Love, is tenderly caring for all
His creation.
We are told that once a rich young
man asked Jesus what he should do
that he might have eternal life. Jesus
answered, "Sell whatsoever thou hast,
and give to the poor, and thou shalt
have treasure In heaven" 1t is as If
he had said, Dispose of everything
that would prevent the establishment
of eternal life In your consciousness,
Later the Master added, "How hard
ls II for them that trust In riches to
enter into the kingdom of God!" It
Is evident that the riches referred to
were treasured beliefs that are not
substantial, while true wealth con-
sists of spiritual ideas. which are en-
during.
Learning something OF the value
of spiritual riches, we find with Paul
that "our sufiiciency is of God" and
that beliefs of lack, encouragement,
and fear are the merchandise of NOR
tai thought. TO be replaced with more
substantial. more spiritual, thinking.
As ones thinking improves, he finds
changes for the better inevitably taxi
ing place In his daily actiyity.-The
OArtsftaa Scteacc Monitor,