Few people fail to plan for a reasonable amount of physical nourishment and rest. In addition, the Christian Scientist needs to allow for "times of refreshing . . . from the presence of the Lord." It happens that, at times, students of Science feel themselves mentally listless, adrift in a sea of suggestion, and unable to account for this undesired mental state. In such a quandary, they might ask themselves these questions: How much regular time am I giving to the study of Christian Science? Am I making full use of its teachings? The flurried reply of mortal mind may be that daily activities—business, domestic, recreational—leave but little time for regular study or spiritual thinking, that which ranks first in spiritual importance being given last consideration in the day's planning. In other cases, there may be a theoretical desire for study, but too little determination in providing for it.
Daily life seems so precipitate, its demands so clamorous, the evidence of the physical senses so pressing, that one needs to be spiritually strong if one is to make headway against the currents of materiality. If the student of this Science consents to be robbed of his daily quota of prayerful study and refreshing communion with the Science of being, he presently finds himself losing in inspiration and poise, breadth of outlook, serenity, dominion, multiplied fruitage. He forgets the import of the words, "Give us this day our daily bread," and their spiritual interpretation. The deepest consecration and most efficient service to our Cause spring from individual spiritual growth. Under the law that the greater controls the lesser, the requisite time for spiritual study will be found as the desire for it is quickened and respected. Some passage read in the early morning is apt to come to our thought during the day. The words may not consciously have been memorized, but they prove to be just the right ones for the occasion. Demonstration, then, is the fruit of this study.
One phase of suggestion is that we do not gain as much now as we formerly did from our study of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. The argument is that we almost know it by heart. Yes, but are its precepts always in our hearts? Familiar with the words we may be, but until their profound meaning and imperative behests have so leavened our consciousness as to enable us to demonstrate complete spirituality and dominion we cannot afford to curtail our study of this immortal work. Nor can we dispense with an ever deeper sense of our Master's ministry gained through a more intimate study of his words and works.
And what of our Leader's other prose writings? Directly after the title page she refers to "Miscellaneous Writings" as "indispensable to the culture and achievements which constitute the success of a student." Who can afford to dispense with the indispensable? Who can afford to leave on the shelf any one of the works she labored to give us because she regarded them as essential to our spiritual growth and efficiency in practice? We have our favorite passages in her works, but shall discover others by exploring more systematically in these fertile pastures. We may quote the words of the Psalmist, "I shall be anointed with fresh oil," with perpetually renewed inspiration, consecration, and joyfulness.
Serene and compelling, the "still small voice" of Truth and Love reaches each one whose spiritual hearing is keen and whose heart is pure. The currents of spirituality are ever the same, and true gravitation is spiritual, not material. The student of Christian Science who persistently enriches his consciousness through dwelling on the facts of real being, rejoices in the vitality and variety of true ideas. His growth is spontaneous and steady, not painful nor spasmodic. Humble, not egotistic, he is never at a loss to know how to think, speak, and act wisely and helpfully. The world does not influence him adversely, for he serves humanity through steadfast love for his fellows.
Even in the busiest day, a few moments may be claimed for quiet thought and study, and no day is complete unless it be closed with a review of the many indications we have had of our nearness to divine Love and its illumination. As we depend upon the might and wisdom of divine Principle, so do we grow wiser and more dependable. As we surrender the fickle will of the carnal mind, so do we bring ourselves under the control of the divine will; so do we feel the incomparable peace of obedience to divine Principle. Then false inclinations vanish, right desires hold sway, and their fruitage is plenteous.
Christian Scientists must not rest on their oars, complacently reviewing the faults which have been overcome since they began their study of Christian Science. No backward look is needed to quicken progress. If our spiritual growth is to continue unimpeded, we must co-operate with the purposes of God and resist everything that contradicts these purposes. We must detect the wiles of mortal mind which would encourage us in the wrong direction and discourage our spiritual advance.
Growth is not merely growth away from materiality. "Growth is the eternal mandate of Mind" (Science and Health, p. 520). Growth is represented by spiritual unfoldment, without beginning or ending. Spiritual growth is seen in the reflection of infinite Love and its unmeasured loveliness. Demonstrating this continuity of spiritual growth according to spiritual law, the Christian Scientist finds himself expressing vigor in place of languor, decision in place of vacillation, illumination in place of obscuration, dominion in place of subjection. He is like the man who "looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work." Of him it is said, "This man shall be blessed in his deed."
Thus are we equipped to fulfill our Leader's prayer for her followers (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 223): "May divine Love so permeate the affections of all those who have named the name of Christ in its fullest sense, that no counteracting influence can hinder their growth or taint their examples."
