On page 238 of "Miscellaneous Writings" those wonderful lines written by Mrs. Eddy, if studied faithfully, must arrest our thought and cause a self-examination as to whether we have begun to perceive even dimly the true meaning of the word endurance. She says, "The reformer has no time to give in defense of his own life's incentive, since no sacrifice is too great for the silent endurance of his love. What has not unselfed love achieved for the race? All that ever was accomplished, and more than history has yet recorded." The silent endurance which is the result of divine Love, is the only true endurance and is the exact opposite of the counterfeit expression which assumes the form of martyrdom or stubborn self-will, meanwhile strenuously justifying its own attitude. As we are told in a modern dictionary, to endure is to have "patient fortitude," "continuing power;" but should that waiting time be spent by any one trusting to the support of personal encouragement and praise, that one is sadly likely to be disappointed when the time of a severe test arises and human affection and support are found to give way before human jealousy and condemnation. Only that quality of endurance which has divine Love as its motive power can remain silent when suggestions of mental tyranny, false accusation, and arrogant self-assertion seek to overwhelm with their asserted power, but cannot do so, the clear consciousness of the one who steadfastly realizes that the battle is the Lord's.
In the Scriptures we read, "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things." That statement is one of pure joy, as we begin to realize, as we are taught in Christian Science, that Mind is the basic cause of all action operating through spiritual law and producing every idea as the perfect image and likeness in complete wholeness and continuity. What an inspiration to courage and endurance is born with the thought that as God's child one has no origin or being but the one Father-Mother God, that one has no means of expression except through spiritual law, the impulsion and compulsion of which is divine, unchanging Love, and that one has no attraction or objective but to reflect back the beauty and perfection of God.
With this understanding well may one echo the psalmist's words and declare, "His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." What are we as students of Christian Science called upon to endure? Simply the carnal mind's resistance to Truth, and the thousand and one suggestions and temptations that seem to assail us and try to cloud or obscure the joy of true thinking. Even a brief mental analysis or searching of our thought will reveal to us the cause of depression or discouragement. It is ever the result of giving in belief too much reality to the unreal, and thereby becoming frightened and confused by entertaining, however fearfully as guests, thoughts which have not one ray of light or joy, instead of instantly hustling out these unwelcome visitors and shutting the door of gratitude for their uncovering firmly after them.
