DUTY HAS GOTTEN A BAD REPUTATION. I know I'm sometimes inclined to squirm at the thought of being bound to do something. It's hard not to grimace when someone else's expectation is hanging over my head. And besides, who can feel drawn to duty when one of its synonyms is the sigh-producing obligation?
But lately, I've had a change of heart. Duty isn't as unappealing as I used to think. Look up the word duty and you might see why. One of its definitions is "an act or expression of respect."
As a Christian Scientist and a member of The Mother Church, it's probably good that I've improved my relationship with this word, because in the Church Manual, Mary Baker Eddy set out a daily duty for all members. The By-Law "Alertness to Duty" reads in part, "It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind" (p. 42).
