Individuals are consistent who, watching and praying, can “run, and not be weary; . . . walk, and not faint,” who gain good rapidly and hold their position, or attain slowly and yield not to discouragement.
~ Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 254
Rather than fretting over how long it takes to get from point A to point B, focus on being there.
Whether fast or slow, the speed does not matter. But being there does. Keep moving.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Evan, and the considerate people who post helpful comments
Keep moving. Yes God keeps us moving in good directions as we lean on Him for guidance. “In Him we live and MOVE and have our being” (Acts 17:28).
The snail in the picture is moving slowly, but surely. He isn’t worried about when he will arrive at his destination, he is fully in the moment, expressing his snailness. There’s a saying, “slow and steady wins the race.” Of course all Truth is true right now and there is actually nothing to keep us from a full realization, though CS teaches that we can’t demonstrate beyond our present understanding. Later in the above passage Mrs. Eddy says, “To stop eating, drinking or being clothed materially before the spiritual facts of existence are gained step by step, is not legitimate. When we wait patiently on God and seek Truth righteously, He directs our path.”
God rests in action. When Love governs our actions there is no effort, for Love is Spirit, and cannot tire. All movement follows the dictates of Mind, so God’s will is necessarily done, fulfilling the Principle of existence. No wonder the snail is happy!
That’s just what has been coming into my thought for a few days Ken….God rests in action…!
The One Mind revealing ….
The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.
Thank you Nadine. This brought to thought Hymn 148:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/1zl03khe6to
I was once told that it is impossible to go from point A to point B.
Why? Because the number of points between them is infinite, the number of points between point A and to the half-way mark is infinite, and between point A and the quarter mark is infinite, etc. etc.
So the only way anyone gets anywhere is the fact that they are already there. We encompass infinity, Certainly knowing where we’re going means that mentally we’re already there. Jesus moved instantly from the center to the shore of the lake because he knew they were already there in Mind.
“Divest yourself of the thought that there can be substance in matter, and the movements and transitions now possible for mortal mind will be found to be equally possible for the body.”(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 90:8–12)
“Man reflects infinity, and this reflection is the true idea of God.”(ibid. 258:11)
“The discoverer of Christian Science finds the path less difficult when she has the high goal always before her thoughts, than when she counts her footsteps in endeavoring to reach it. When the destination is desirable, expectation speeds our progress.” (ibid 426:5–9)
I LOVE that thought of expectation. It’s joy, trust, confidence in good. It’s mentally already living there.
And supportive counsel from Mrs. Eddy: “The discoverer of Christian Science finds the path less difficult when she has the high goal always before her thoughts, than when she counts her footsteps in endeavoring to reach it. When the destination is desirable, expectation speeds our progress.”
(Science and Health p. 426:5–9)
Thank you Evan and all. Jesus said, John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields: for they are white already to harvest.
This concept of already being there can also be quite helpful with traveling, whether it’s to see relatives at the holidays – or just any travel. Even business travel! It eliminates whatever mm seems to be throwing at one when traveling.
Thank you so much yet again dear Evan.
It’s the discouragement angle that can catch you out when making spiritual progress, at any pace.
The following is a great favourite of mine in similar situation….
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40;31
I’m so grateful for Spirit View and all the loving daily comments❣️
Like baby sea turtles striving to get to the ocean, it doesn’t matter how
small our steps are, we need to keep taking them to move forward
in our thought in God’s spiritual direction.
Plato had once said, “Never discourage anyone who continually
makes progress, no matter how slow.”
Our progress sometimes seems very slow, but when our purpose
is to express God, to share with others and appreciate all that
we have, our steps are rewarded with so much divine Love, it really
is wonderful.
Reminds me of the “Big” children’s prayer:
Father-Mother good, lovingly
Thee I seek, —
Patient, meek,
In the way Thou hast, —
Be it slow or fast,
Up to Thee.
(Poems, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 69:8)
Thank you Evan, and such wonderful comments!
“Patience, fidelity, and the promise of healing” (What can we do when time seems to have come between us and healing?) by Elaine Natale:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/10j34rnikiw
Thank you, Evan, and thank you for all the inspiring comments.
Thanks J for that inspiring article. I especially liked ” it is God who is controlling our lives, not other people, the body, or any material circumstances.” Very time and helpful for me!!
I also like “Action expresses more gratitude than speech.” (Science and Health chapter on Prayer (page 3 line 26).
I am deeply grateful for Evan’s today’s SpiritView combined with all your very comforting and helpful, highly metaphysical comments filled with divine Love!
There are so many healing thoughts and ideas in all your comments which give me a lot inspiration !
God is blessing us all very much with this loving SpiritView Blog and spiritually inspiring commentations. I am happy and thankful for it and I send lots of love to all!