Protection through Watchfulness ELLA W. HOAG, CSD          Men in whatever walk of life and from earliest recorded history have recognized that their protection from danger and difficulty has depended largely upon their exercising watchfulness. From the wise saying, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," to the prosaic, "Watch your step," mankind has accepted the fact that alertness at all times and under all circumstances is an important factor in successful endeavor. Men have believed this so thoroughly that when disaster has seemed to be their portion they have most frequently attributed it to some failure on their part to keep guard where watchfulness had been needed. Human ingenuity and wisdom, however, have been so frail a staff to lean upon that even while men have proclaimed the necessity of constant alertness they have found themselves falling short of its demands, even at most crucial periods.          Christians have joined in this universal recognition of the desirability of alertness; they have admitted that continual watchfulness is a demand that God makes upon them. For do they not find through all the Bible an unbroken thread of admonition to be watchful? Even they, however, have often wondered why their best endeavors to be alert should fall so far short of what was needed to ensure adequate protection.          All through Mrs. Eddy's writings the same call to watchfulness resounds. Christian Science therefore also emphasizes this need of perpetual care lest one sleep when he should be awake; but it has also marked out the way whereby watchfulness may be so perfectly performed that success shall attend every right undertaking. Basing its instructions on this subject — as on all others — on the teachings and demonstrations of Jesus, it calls attention to the fact that our Lord and Master was so constantly, so consistently, watchful that he was never found off guard. In consequence, he was so perfectly protected that he was able to prove under whatever untoward condition the unity with God, good, which delivered him from all evil.          Christian Science shows in a simple and clear manner that Jesus was thus able to demonstrate perfect protection because he always watched his thinking, and never allowed any but the thoughts of God, divine Mind, to remain with him. He never failed to divide between Truth and error in his thinking; neither did he ever go to sleep at his post, but was ever awake to reject all that knocked at his mental door which did not bear the signet of Truth. There were times when his watching against certain arguments of error required long vigils; still he never faltered, but continued to watch alertly until Truth reigned triumphant in his consciousness.          As members of The Mother Church we have all sworn before God and man that we "solemnly promise to watch and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus" (Church Manual, p. 16). And how are we to fulfill this sacred vow in the best possible way? Surely by doing as we have promised — by constantly watching and praying; by challenging, even as Jesus did, every thought that knocks at our mental door; by then examining each thought until we have so discerned its nature that we are able to separate "the precious from the vile;" and by never resting content until we have silenced every evil concept through the understanding that because it is not from divine Mind it must be without entity or reality.          Many are the temptations to fail in alertness to this great duty; many are the arguments which would lull us into stupidity and unalertness; but our duty ever remains the same: to watch and pray for the Mind of Christ!          At first this process may seem slow and laborious. If, however, it is undertaken joyfully and lovingly, it will soon be discovered that constant watchfulness will lead us ever forward to quicker and greater authority in dividing between the results of mistaken or wrong thinking. In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (pp. 232, 233) our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, has given us a most illuminating article on the subject of "Watching versus Watching Out," which we shall do well to study often and with earnest prayerfulness.          Every Christian Scientist, whatever the length of time he may have been endeavoring to practice Christian Science, understands full well that he has no difficulties but those which are the result of failure to watch and control his thinking properly. And yet how simple the way of protection! To refuse every thought which is not of God, and to replace it with the true thought which divine Mind is ever at hand to supply! The way will be made easier if we remember that we do not have to watch yesterday's thinking, or tomorrow's. It is the thought of this moment towards which we must be on guard. As we always watch the present thought, we shall finally prove with Paul the possibility of "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ," and our lives will be examples of the wonderful protection which results from God-governed thinking.   "Protection through Watchfulness" by Ella W. Hoag, CSD Christian Science Sentinel, November 27, 1926

 

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