The definition of limitation as "a restraining condition, defining circumstance, or qualifying conception," very aptly describes our mental outlook when entering on the study of Christian Science. Human nature has so long been used to its shackles, sometimes accepting, sometimes rebelling against them, that it almost seems as though it can never learn to be free on this plane of consciousness. At first we are perplexed that this law of limitation should claim to hold us, even when we are desirous of being rid of it, and we anxiously begin to search for the cause. With due thought and study it is not difficult to find.
Probably the first question which needs to be answered is this, "Are we willing to be free?" When Christ Jesus offered freedom to the Jews, even those who believed on him declared that they had never been "in bondage to any man." It is a well-known fact that slaves, far from enjoying their freedom, have frequently preferred to continue working under conditions from which they might claim emancipation. Where this state of affairs was mutually helpful, it might have betokened a sense of gratitude, a recognition of benefits which were theirs at the moment, and which they deemed well nigh impossible to find under another regime or in different surroundings; but too often, alas, this willing slavery is the outcome of apathy, of lack of desire for independence of thought and action, the willingness of the many to be led rather than to undertake the onerous task of being an independent thinker.
It is a striking fact, that in a gathering of people meeting on an equal footing, one will immediately arrogate to himself the position of leader or spokesman, though not necessarily competent, and the others will almost invariably acquiesce. An incident which came under the writer's notice may illustrate this point. Once, when waiting for a train, she observed four or five people coming from different directions, evidently friends, who appeared to be proceeding on their journey together. They chatted quietly for a few minutes, when one member became very excited, marshaled them hither and thither, told them they were on the wrong platform, etc., and generally disturbed the harmony of the rest. Without hesitation her right to order them about was tacitly acknowledged, with the result that when the train came in they were on the wrong side of the station and lost it. The losing of a train is a small matter, but one wondered if any less lethargic attitude would have been maintained had larger issues been at stake. Had these people used their right of intelligent thought, this incident would not have happened; but many persons are grateful to have their thinking done for them, and rightly deserve to suffer for their slothfulness.
