The enterprises the human mind directs its efforts to are often undeserving of those efforts. Too often they lack the vital ingredient of idealism. On the other hand, many worthy ventures are never initiated, simply because they have a surplus of idealism but no outlet for expression. Many endeavors fall short of fulfillment because they are deficient either in vision or directed effort. A task without a vision is drudgery; a vision without a task is a dream; but a task with a vision is victory.
Christian Scientists recognize their religion as a task of ideals and a vision of purpose. The Christian Scientist's ideals are practical insofar as they are energized to accomplish good. Ideals are effective only to the degree they are implemented. They are of little value to oneself or one's neighbor if they are jealously held as exclusive property.
The sweeping rejection of the ideals of the past we often meet today can probably be traced in part to the tendency of many people, ostensibly devoted to these ideals, to avoid confrontations that would test them. Through laziness, hypocrisy, or fear they bypass the challenges that could give meaning to their ideals and to their own lives.
