"Press toward the mark" ELLA W. HOAG, CSD          "Press toward the mark." How simple a statement, and if spoken thoughtlessly how easy of undertaking and accomplishment it would seem! If, however, it be carefully considered, what possibilities of right endeavor may it not involve! Before one can feel impelled to make any effort to go forward he must at least have glimpsed some goal which he feels is worthy of attainment. What higher aim could there be than to reach the height Paul set for himself when he said: "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."          That it takes exalted aspiration and unfaltering resolution to win any real good is a foregone conclusion. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 340) Mrs. Eddy writes: "There is no excellence without labor; and the time to work, is now. Only by persistent, unremitting, straightforward 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." Christian Science, in its perfect rules for demonstration, shows the student how to put the above teaching into practice. These are not idle words which our beloved Leader gave, but such heart-stirring, life-giving instruction that the more one cherishes and follows them, the more quickly will the perfect goal be attained. As one undertakes to do this he will be subjected to wide and varied experiences. It makes no difference what these experiences may be, nothing should be allowed to deter him from winning from each one the valuable lesson God intends him to learn. Whether the experience be what the world calls happy or distressful, it may be proved to be an important stepping-stone to higher, more successful spiritual accomplishment. No admission of self-will, self-justification, or self-love with any of their kindred claims of error, should be allowed to blind one to a just consideration of the questions involved, because this would make impossible a correct judgment of the situation.          Take for example: In the present condition of the affairs of the world, there are often many applicants for the same place, and a great sense of confusion, rancor, and discord seems to arise when only one can be chosen to do a certain work or receive a certain advantage. Without Christian Science it has seemed quite impossible for those who have been deprived of what was held to be a desired benefit, to understand that the very deprivation could be proved a blessing. The student of Christian Science can, however, press forward under every circumstance, be it untoward or otherwise, to the attainment of his goal of spiritual demonstration through self-mastery and self-immolation. Right here is an opportunity to rise above personal desire, personal outlining, and even though apparently denied an opportunity of advancement from the human standpoint, to know and prove that spiritual progress is still possible; indeed is the only advancement which really counts.          On the other hand; one who may be chosen to a position of trust is inevitably forced, if he would win further spirituality, to turn entirely to divine Principle in order to retain and maintain that true humility which is able to demonstrate that only reflected good can prove itself worthy and capable of entrustment of higher responsibility. No personal sense of place or position must becloud his vision, no fear of jealousy or malice must enter his consciousness. His entire thought must become more fully unselfed, if he is to do his duty — be it humble or great from the world's standpoint — in a way to prove that he is really pressing "toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." No worldly disappointment, no worldly honor can ever uplift, unless the one or the other, as the circumstances may seem, shall urge further conquering of that selfhood which is not of the Father-Mother God.          Each mortal must some day recognize the fact that all must reach this goal; and there is only one way it can be done. It is the way Jesus did it, — through conquering the flesh with the spirit, through overcoming evil with good, through triumphing over matter with divine Mind. In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 194) our Leader tells us, "Only those men and women gain greatness who gain themselves in a complete subordination of self;" and she also gives to Christian Scientists the following comforting assurance (p. 150): "A heart touched and hallowed by one chord of Christian Science, can accomplish the full scale; but this heart must be honest and in earnest and never weary of struggling to be perfect — to reflect the divine Life, Truth, and Love."   "'Press toward the mark'" by Ella W. Hoag, CSD Christian Science Sentinel, February 7, 1920

 

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