That's what it is, or maybe good intentions with too much of the bark of stubborn human selfhood left on. There is firm footing, we are told, straight through the Slough of Despond for those who keep their eyes fixed on the little wicket gate at the far side. Still, there are those of us who are determined "to choose and see my path" (Hymn #169) or kick against the pricks even if it means wasted years wallowing in and playing patty-cake with the muck. Our materially-minded best efforts are unlikely to suffice--now or ever. In humility we must let that "kindly Light" daily lead us on.
Intention oft wishes to be mistaken for realization, but as that old saying goes "There is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip" (Palladas). Should the above tableau resonate with any reader, or even some recalcitrant amanuensis somewhere, it simply cannot be allowed to continue. High-minded desires and self-satisfying musings, if indulged, will, at best, only lead us down the primrose path.
"Only by persistent, unremitting, straight-forward toil; by turning neither to the right nor to the left, seeking no other pursuit or pleasure than that which cometh from God, can you win and wear the crown of the faithful." (Mis 340: 6-10)
20 comments:
Dear Christian,
I've been checking your website each day and finally found an essay. Very well put, and inspiring as well.
Wonderful essay, Christian. A demanding one, but our Leader knew what she was writing.
Thanks much!
Good to see you back on-line. Read this through a couple of times and found it well worth thinking about. And doing!
God bless you for using your talents in behalf of CS. If we're going to follow our Leader as she followed Christ, we're going to have to do a better job, as you bring out.
Good job, Christian!
A very well written piece and I appreciate your sharing your thoughts with us.
I'm grateful for the demands our Leader makes on us. And then there's all that our Master instructs us to do, to stay right with God. This essay has a lot of helpful thoughts in it.
Thanks Christian.
A nice tone to this essay, blogger. Or should I call you Christian. Glad to see you back blogging.
Glad to see we've moved on from the controversial topics which some who like to argue won't like, but things seem to be on a higher plane now. Really like this one, Christian!
Love your website (and it looks like others feel the same way.) Someone I know said you write so well, I should visit. Glad I did.
A wonderful Christian Scientist once said to me that the path we take in demonstrating Christ, Truth can seem like a narrow one, very confining in a way. Certainly it does to selfish materialist. But she said, this Way Jesus mapped out expands as e walk in it. And it leads to joy and peace of mind and blessings we cannot imagine.
Thanks for what you are doing.
Your latest contribution to the Field certainly resonates with me and I thank you for sharing your thoughts on this vital topic.
Dear Christian,
I see a lot of humility in this essay, and it makes me think of Mrs. Eddy's insistence in something she wrote in Prose Works that we have to keep close to this Christly quality if we don't want to miss the way.
A most interesting blog post. Are you saying you are pigheaded? Surely not. At any rate, enjoyed reading this one.
Another well worth reading (and thinking about) blog post, Christian.
Love and blessings,
Thanks for a fine essay. I'm going to think about what you've said.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Christian, for doing such a good job helping CS's think more. And hopefully, demonstrate our wonderful religion more effectively.
Where would we be without what our dear Leader has left mankind?!
Ah yes, it isn't reading the sublime words we have from our Master and from our study of divine Science that gets us where we need to go, but the living of the Word. Thanks for this reminder.
Well done, Christian. As to turning neither to the right nor to the left as Mary Baker Eddy counsels her followers, this calls to my thought something Jesus said when Peter was wondering about what another disciple would do. "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me." (John 21:22)
Such a great quote! Recently read Julia Johnston's 'Enthronement'... a metaphysical masterpiece! I'd recommend it to everyone...happy reading!
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