When one considers for how many centuries the vast resources of the American continent were hidden from the civilized nations of the earth, and how long the useful energies of steam and electricity were imprisoned in undiscovered realms of thought, a feeling of awe arises to think what power, what wealth must still lie out of sight, waiting through countless ages for some gifted eye to pierce the mask of ignorance and see beyond. The diamond waits in the dark of the earth, the pearl in the depth of the sea, until some one, braver than most, shall find them hidden there.
The wonder increases many fold when through Christian Science our thought is turned to spiritual things. Christ Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he ... selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." It was Thoreau who wrote the magnificent sentence, "Truth waits to be known." Ever present Truth, "the same yesterday, and today, and forever," is patiently waiting for mortals to lay aside their ignorance and pride of opinion, and behold "the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." Think of the generations of human endeavor before there was found a daughter of the line of David exalted enough to conceive a Saviour; then of the eighteen long centuries of changing circumstance until the Science of the Christ was discerned anew by Mrs. Eddy. Significant indeed, in the light of these considerations, is this saying of our Leader: "Truth is used to waiting" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 268).
Truth is characterized by unlimited patience. It eternally maintains a perfect self-government, conscious that all things abide under its rule, because all real things originated therein. It is Omega as well as Alpha, the end as well as the beginning; hence the absolute poise of perfect Principle. We must not forget the equanimity of Truth's idea, its poise and permanence: in short, its definiteness. Truth is infinite in power and scope, but let no man think that Truth is indefinite. The rule of addition is boundless in its applications, but as fixed as the course of a star. Surely it is this poise and permanence that Jesus has expressed by referring so often to God, the divine Principle, as our Father. Isaiah tells us of "the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy," and who declares, "I dwell in the high and holy place."
