The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-04-05
The Availability Of Good

istence, may be likened to
boatmen rowing against the tide.
With strenuous and ceaseless effort
they work as though against power
which they believe will, If not OPP
posed, sweep them in direc lion the
very opposite to that in which they
have set their course.
To each individual the desired ha-
ven is his highest concept Of good.
that state of human experience which
he believes will bring him satisfac-
tion and freedom from further strug-
giles. Some strive to gain possession
of something which they believe has
been denied them, and others to re-
cover something which they appear
to have lost, such as health, harmony,
opportunity, success, home, compan-
; ionship, and the like. The tide against
which men row Is belief in evil N all
its forms, including lack, limitation,
poverty, and discord, and the boat in
which they embark is the craft of hui
man thought, which, when not stead
led and borne along by the spiritual
understanding of God, may be turned
completely out of its course.
The teachings of Christ Jesus new
er indicate that men must struggle
against evil as something real in. or
der to gain good, since he said, Fear
not, little flock; for it is your Faith
er's good pleasure to give you the
| kingdom" We may take this king
dom as denoting all that is good, sat-
isfying, and needful, and the daily
| life of the Master was testimony 10
the truth of his statement, for never
| at any time did he experience lack or
limitation. Who that has studied the
| Gospel narratives can picture the
! gentle Nazarene struggling against
| evil as if it were real or powerful?
He knew. without shadow of doubt,
| the power, presence, and availability
of good, and refused to acknowledge
evil in any form as having power,
! presence, or reality. He accepted
| good and used it. Health, opportu-
nifty, supply, and dominion he proved
| to be available to all men, for he did
not limit the availability of good to
his own experience. On the contrary,
| he said that his followers should re-
peat his works The great necessity
of mankind is to awaken to these
facts and to realize that Christ Jesus
| spoke no idle word. He meant what
he said, and would not have said it
If he had not known that what he de-
manded of his followers was possible
! of fulfiilment by them.
| When a right-thinking individual
finds himself confronted with the
choice between two things, one good
| I'D k1,14 t1 !, = 1. rl,@ H.
he believes to be good. -.
On page A of her book Pulpit and
Press" showing the individual abil-
ity to utilize good, Mary Baker Eddy
writes, "You have simply to preserve
scientific, positive sense of unity
with your divine source, and daily
demonstrate this" In Christian Sci
ence we learn that the source from
which man springs is perfect and in
finite Mind. Therefore, in order to
feel this "sense of unity" we must
entertain thoughts which are pure,
good, true, wise, and intelligent. Such
thoughts are natural to us, for they
are the substance of our true self
hood. This perfect selfhood is not in
matter, but in divine Mind, for Mind
expresses itself only in spiritual ideas,
| and man is that very expression.
When we cease our vain struggling
against evil as real and turn humbly
to God, praying with confident ex-
pectancy for that which will meet our
need, and leaving the issue in Gods
hands, we shall find that positive
thoughts come freely to our con-
seriousness Holding to these with
f1rmness and assurance and mentally
declaring the supremacy of good, we
shall find ourselves lifted above the
tide of error, and steadily carried in
the right direction by the current of
good. 4
From the foregoing facts it will be
seen that we do not reach our desired
haven by ignoring evil and drifting
with the tide. There Is much work to
be done, but 1t is primarily mental
and has behind 1t the omnipotence of
God. Our mental state determines
our human conditions. With posi-
tive and fearless thoughts within, we
shall find our human affairs taking
on a new aspect. And if at first it
seems difficult to listen for Gods
thoughts. let us begin by expressing
the blessed qualities of cheerfulness
and gratitude. These are buoyant
qualities, uplifting, joyous, and free.
The cheerful and grateful heart
will be receptive Of the most lovely
and gracious ideas of infinite Mind.
Faith and goodness, hope and assur-
ance, intelligence and wisdom, are
all ours If we will but avail ourselves
of them. And when the frail bark of
human effort is steadied and borne
onward by the spiritual understand
ing which comes to ali who earnestly
seek God; 1t will bring us safely to
! the haven of our most cherished de-
sires.-The Christian Science Monitor.
| Mill al. 4 Ill