Meeting challenges can be satisfying.
But what happens when there seem to be no goals, no demands, nothing to grow toward or away from?
What happens, for example, to someone on the brink of retirement who doesn't intend to redirect his energy?
At times when there seems to be no incentive, mortals may become apathetic. They may be tempted to quit church activities or believe they are less refreshed than they used to be from studying the Bible and Science and Health. Or they may be tempted to pursue debilitating pastimes. Christian Science presents spiritual demands to be met during those periods when there appears to be no human need or challenge to encourage growth toward Spirit, God.
Spiritual demands inspire more than words, more than mere human faith or belief. When responded to, they produce demonstration, healing. One man met, through Science, this challenge that comes when there is no challenge. His youthful goals had been gained. There seemed to be only interminable bill paying and family routine stretching before him. In his branch Church of Christ, Scientist, he had just finished a term as First Reader. There was no stimulation of demand in church, family, or business.
While praying about this situation, the man turned to Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. There he found and accepted the statement, "Spiritual development germinates not from seed sown in the soil of material hopes, but when these decay, Love propagates anew the higher joys of Spirit, which have no taint of earth." Science and Health, p. 66;
As he placed less faith in material hopes and allowed divine Love to direct him, his life became happier and progressive. His career, family relations, and church work took a refreshingly different course. He found new opportunities to be of service to God and to his fellowman. He also learned that one need not accept immoral substitutes, which damage self-respect and harm others. This progress has continued through the years.
Today, as in the time of Jesus and his disciples, the basic truths of Christian Science heal. Truth is opposed to the carnal mind and its material modes. This carnal mind, either through ignorance of divine power or through falsely claiming to know it, would rebel against spiritual purity. But the finite, mortal mind cannot raise itself against the infinite. God, Spirit, supplies the power to reverse and destroy whatever the carnal mind strives to establish or maintain.
The Master, Christ Jesus, put down this carnal mind's efforts. When he appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, he confronted their temptation to return to a limited material pursuit. The disciples had again become fishermen. Jesus presented them, as he had three years before, with the goal to be fishers of men. He said to Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" John 21:15; Was he, perhaps, daring Peter to put the Christ before even the needed human business of catching fish? Peter gave a definite reply that he loved Jesus, the demonstrator of the Christ, "more than these." Soon Peter and the disciples began careers of healing and saving, serving the Christ and blessing mankind far beyond their generation.
Mrs. Eddy, who also successfully practiced Christian healing, encourages us through this statement: "In an age of ecclesiastical despotism, Jesus introduced the teaching and practice of Christianity, affording the proof of Christianity's truth and love; but to reach his example and to test its unerring Science according to his rule, healing sickness, sin, and death, a better understanding of God as divine Principle, Love, rather than personality or the man Jesus, is required." Science and Health, p. 473.
When you and I accept the demand to put God and the demonstration of His Science first, we will help others and ourselves also, expressing in our activities spiritual renewal, interest, and joy. If we will accept the summons made by God through His revelation to this age, we can meet the challenge that exists when there seems to be no challenge. We can replace staleness with something more than mortal substitutes. And we will have opportunities to bless others in some way. Can there be a more needed or invigorating challenge?
