Promotion and progress are desired by almost everyone. True promotion, as understood in Christian Science, is spiritual advancement. This spiritual advancement does not necessarily manifest itself in worldly promotion, in positions entailing more human exactions, demands, and responsibilities, with more money and prestige as accompaniments, although it may be thus evidenced.
We read in Genesis that although evil in the form of jealousy, envy, and hatred sold Joseph into slavery and later put him into prison, his spiritual recognition of God's allness, expressed in love, forgiveness, and wisdom, delivered him and promoted him to high authority. Daniel's experiences were similar. Both these men were promoted to positions of great responsibility and honor as a result of their clear reflection of divine Mind, manifested in wisdom and efficiency. This was true also of Moses. Yet Jesus, the most spiritually-minded man who ever lived, received" no material advancement and only limited recognition from the world of his day.
Do the foregoing facts imply that human footsteps are not necessary in our efforts to progress? Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, plainly states in her writings that such footsteps are indispensable. We must be sure, however, that those we take result from listening for Love's directing, and are not the outcome of resentment, fear, greed, false ambition, or mere human reasoning.
