One day, when I sat down to work, I was surprised to find that I was unable to focus. This was more than a moment of distraction; this was a roadblock to my ability to think properly about my current work project. I was in the middle of a two-week contract with a client. It was a tight schedule, but I had no other commitments and I’d been reasonably confident that I could accomplish what I needed to in time.
The first part of the project had gone well, and I was about halfway done and still on schedule. But on this particular morning I was experiencing a mental haze that I’d never before encountered. Though I’d known about Christian Science most of my life, I had only recently begun to study it seriously and turn to it for healing. This particular morning I hadn’t yet read the weekly Christian Science Bible Lesson, so I thought that might be a good change of pace.
While reading, I came across the following sentence from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy: “The exercise of will brings on a hypnotic state, detrimental to health and integrity of thought” (p. 446). I certainly seemed to be experiencing that hypnotic state! So I asked myself: Am I exercising will? I examined my thinking.
As I considered my motives and rationale for taking on this work project, I realized that I had planned it out entirely humanly, without seeking God’s guidance. I’d reasoned that I could earn a good amount of money by utilizing my talents, and I took a little bit of pride in the fact that I could do so much work in such a short amount of time.
I hadn’t asked myself if this project was for a greater purpose or if it was an activity that would bless others. I had only measured how the project would benefit me personally. That, I realized, was a form of “exercising will.” I mainly wanted to do the work because I knew I could do it.
Realizing this less than stellar motive, I knew it needed to be corrected. So I established in thought that I have no personal ability. If God is divine Mind and Mind is all, then every thought I manifest and every bit of intelligence I express is God-derived. So I recognized God as the source of all ability, and thanked Him for His understanding, precision, inventiveness, and efficiency, and knew that I expressed these qualities by reflection. I then asked God if I was doing the right thing in taking on this work contract.
The way I’ve often asked God questions is to mentally state the question, establish that God is always present and communicating to me, and then get quiet in thought to hear any answers. The answer that came was calm, sure, and felt right, so I had confidence that it was a divine thought.
It came to me that this project was a way to glorify and express God, and that it was right to complete it. With this new perspective, and with a willingness to give glory and gratitude to God through every step of the project, I went back to work.
Now my thoughts were clear, the haze was gone, and I was able to make good progress. The project was completed successfully within the time allotted. The lesson from this experience has stayed with me over the years. Since then, whenever I’ve run into a difficult challenge or gotten stuck on a problem, I’ve remembered to give gratitude and glory to God at every step. With that motive, I’ve always found a path forward.
