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The welcome advent of Labor Day has gotten me thinking of a favorite snippet from Mary Baker Eddy, where she talks of “the unlabored motion of divine energy” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures page 445). I have found this helpful to think about over the years, especially when I’m very busy.

I put this idea together with two others of hers. “Mind is perpetual motion. Its symbol is the sphere. The rotations and revolutions of the universe of Mind go on eternally” (Ibid 240 and capital M Mind refers to God). “God rests in action. Imparting has not impoverished, can never impoverish, the divine Mind. No exhaustion follows the action of this Mind… The highest and sweetest rest, even from a human standpoint, is in holy work.”(Ibid 519)

These bits remind me that God is doing the doing and I need only reflect. The reflection in the mirror is never exhausted and never needs a day off. If we are busy doing God’s bidding, that comes complete with the energy to do whatever must be done. It is mostly about setting down our own human will and doing God’s will instead. This is the holy work described above.

“The human mind, imbued with this spiritual understanding, becomes more elastic, is capable of greater endurance, escapes somewhat from itself, and requires less repose.” (Ibid 128)

I am often asked how I do all I do. The answer is I try to get myself out of the way and let God do the doing. Yes, it appears this means a willingness to be in perpetual motion, but is also deeply restful within itself, because operating from a bottomless, inexhaustible Source. As in the revolutions of the sphere mentioned above, even while it is rotating, there is simultaneously an important central stillness within its axis, that makes all the movement possible, balanced and controlled.

So I recommend finding this stable stillness within yourself and operating out from there.  Put down your tired sense of self with all your worn out defenses, and put on instead what Ephesians (chapter 4) calls “the new man” or what Eddy refers to as your “unselfed better self” (Miscellany page 6).

Don’t try to be the motive-power of your life or actions, and instead have one God, one Mind, and that one infinite– pertinent right here and now in all the minutiae of your daily existence. This is so freeing, restful, and fulfilling. No longer plodding and beleaguered, having this outlook on all your activities makes accomplishment satisfying and meaningful beyond your highest human hopes.

I discussed “unlabored motion” once before on this blog several years ago, and you might also benefit from reading those thoughts as well; that post was titled Working Like Spirit Does and you can find it by clicking here. 

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