Step By Step

In Psalms we read, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” The importance of the word “steps” in this sentence is corroborated by the fact that all through the Bible each achievement of the prophets and of the disciples is shown to have been accomplished by steps. In the vision of Jacob, the angels of God were seen ascending and descending a ladder composed of steps, indicating that even the angels, “God’s thoughts” (Science and Health, p. 581) do not precipitate themselves upon us, nor do we reach them by spontaneous soaring, but by being obedient in taking the steps which eventually bring us to spiritual heights.

In analyzing her own attitude, the writer has been amazed at the stumbling-blocks which would effectually conceal steps of progress. We ourselves place or allow to be placed these stumbling-blocks, and then we either stumble over them and go on an impeded way because we do not see clearly, or we sit down behind them for an indefinite time where we cannot see. Perhaps the step is just the righting of a wrong thought which we have cherished. If so, the daily prayer found in Psalms, “Create within me a clean heart,” will help to dispose of this obstacle. Or perhaps we have withheld something of our time, our love, or our substance, which should have been given, either through fear of lack or a selfish desire to retain and thus increase our own supply. Both of these erroneous beliefs are rebuked in the story of the widow’s experience in supplying food to Elijah, who assured her that the “barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail,” and the verity of his words was proven.

The writer has been a member of a small but growing Christian Science church for the past few years, and for a long time failed to see the advantage and importance of attending regularly every church service, unless prevented by some other duty. When she finally did see that this constituted a step in progress, and began to act accordingly, she was enabled to render a small service to the cause by being given a duty to perform regularly at each service, that of playing the hymns. About a year ago she was called upon to take charge of a Sunday school class, but again failing to recognize it as a step, she declined, offering as an excuse the lack of time to prepare. She paused behind this obstacle for some time, unconsciously allowing it to influence her progress in other directions, until recently, when she was again invited to teach in Sunday school, she was very glad of the opportunity to respond assentingly, having been awakened to the blessing of service. In so doing she has learned that there is plenty of time to prepare for the lessons and do other work besides, and so, in the words of our hymn,

Step by step since time began,
We see the steady gain of man.

It lies with each one of us to move forward, overcoming as we go all obstacles of discouragement, doubt, fear, or whatever would impede, and running “with patience the race that is set before us.” It is only from the vantage-point of a step taken that we can see to take the next step, and each advancing step is surely “ordered by the Lord.”