Continuity

Last week, a longtime friend of Wide Horizon and I communicated about some topics, including “continuity.” She agreed that I could share some of our communications, which will be interspersed throughout what follows.

As many of us have learned in our professional lives, continuity is an important quality to the success of an organization. Having stability in staffing is vital to operations and programs. The successful sustainability of a business usually includes consistency year-to-year. From a metaphysical perspective continuity certainly involves the perpetual activity of harmonious divine Mind being expressed. This is a key to the operations of a Christian Science nursing organization.

At times, companies and organizations are presented with variables that seem to disrupt operations and continuity.

From an article in Colorado Biz magazine, 8/25/2021: “The United States is in the throes of a ‘great resignation’ that’s bigger and sooner than anyone [projected]. According to the Department of Labor, a record four million workers quit in April [2021] alone, and Gallup research finds that 48 percent of the working population is currently searching actively for a job or watching for new opportunities. Pandemic fatigue, burnout, unwanted return-to-workplace requirements, and rethinking what truly matters in life are major reasons contributing to this tidal wave of leaving. …employees are shifting from a ‘work to live’ to a ‘live to work’ mentality.” https://www.cobizmag.com/how-to-survive-the-great-resignation

Such data is perceived to be fact. It seems to affect many industries. This seems daunting for many people and businesses. It seems to greatly and negatively influence operations. Yet, its effect is based entirely on a human perspective and material data.

In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, wrote, “Spirit is the life, substance, and continuity of all things” (p. 124).

Continuity.  What’s that mean? Here are some definitions from online sources: 1) Unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something over a period of time. 2) A state of stability and the absence of disruption. 3) Maintenance of continuous action.

Wide’s friend shared, “Surely God’s goodness, loving care and provision are continuous. They can never cease, be disrupted or interrupted. And surely God’s government, [order] and control are continuous, without interruption. In speaking about the ‘ever operative divine Principle,’ Mrs. Eddy tells us on page 123 of Science and Health, ‘The operation of this Principle indicates the eternality of the scientific order and continuity of being.’”

This spiritual reality – this “scientific order and continuity of being” –  is one that I feel can govern the operations of an organization, whenever one wholeheartedly turns one’s thought in complete acknowledgment and trust of divine Principle, God. This operation brings solid order, and it establishes the continuity of being successful. Yet it requires one to listen to and be influenced by the divine Mind, rather than the human mind, in order to consistently witness the presence and power of this spiritual law – to witness God’s law in action and activity. The continuous action of spiritual law mirrors the statement, divine “Mind is the source of all movement, and there is no inertia to retard or check its perpetual and harmonious action” (Science and Health, p. 283).

As we further consider the theme of what’s continuous and that which perpetuates, the word “perpetual” means never ceasing, uninterrupted, without interruptions, ceaseless, endless, permanent, everlasting. (The Student’s Reference Dictionary)

In Science and Health, we read about God: “…God, the Soul of man and of all existence, being perpetual in His own individuality, harmony, and immortality, imparts and perpetuates these qualities in man, — through Mind, not matter” (p. 280).

Our friend wrote, “seeing Wide Horizon as [an expression of] a compound idea of God, we can know that God perpetuates its individuality, harmony and immortality. [Wide Horizon’s] individuality would certainly include an efficiently run [operation] with the necessary staff who give loving thought to the preparation of and [fulfillment of roles], etc. God perpetuates this right idea. So, in reality, this is the present fact about Wide Horizon. There is actually no stoppage or interruption in God’s loving provision.  It’s only to the material senses there seems to be interruption, lack of continuity. [Wide Horizon’s expression of] harmony is the present fact about it [always]. [Wide Horizon’s expression of] immortality means it is exempt from material limitations, such as marketing trends, misinformation, lack of availability, fear, and so on. Soul perpetuates individuality, harmony and immortality to everyone at Wide Horizon. This perpetuation is new each moment and ongoing without interruption or disturbance.”

Wide Horizon has had more than 70 years of continuity, providing perpetual programs and services of Christian Science nursing to the Christian Science community. There have been many challenges to overcome and changes to navigate. A guiding principle, certainly in the past 20 years, is to practice from the basis of wisdom, economy and brotherly love, seeking prayer-based solutions whenever possible. To me, this uninterrupted activity is a remarkable history of individual demonstrations and collective teamwork. These qualities of wisdom, economy and brotherly love are a solid foundation, and consistently have been my modus operandi in my professional work at Wide Horizon.

Mrs. Eddy wrote, again in Science and Health, “Spirit diversifies, classifies, and individualizes all thoughts, which are as eternal as the Mind conceiving them; but the intelligence, existence, and continuity of all individuality remain in God, who is the divinely creative Principle thereof” (p. 513). And, on page 77 of the Church Manual, “God’s Requirement. SECT. 5. God requires wisdom, economy, and brotherly love to characterize all the proceedings of the members of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist.”

I strive to perpetually and continually meet this requirement at Wide Horizon.

D. Brian Boettiger