So man must be careful that he is not the “wicked and slothful servant” who buried his talent. There is a terrible penalty to be paid for not using one’s ability.
Often fear stands between man and his perfect self-expression. Stage-fright has hampered many a genius. This may be overcome by the spoken word, or treatment. The individual then loses all self-consciousness, and feels simply that he is a channel for Infinite Intelligence to express Itself through.
He is under direct inspiration, fearless, and confident; for he feels that it is the “Father within” him who does the work.
A young boy came often to my class with his mother. He asked me to “speak the word” for his coming examinations at school.
I told him to make the statement: “I am one with Infinite Intelligence. I know everything I should know on this subject.” He had an excellent knowledge of history, but was not sure of his arithmetic. I saw him afterwards, and he said: “I spoke the word for my arithmetic, and passed with the highest honors; but thought I could depend on myself for history, and got a very poor mark.” Man often receives a set-back when he is “too sure of himself,” which means he is trusting to his personality and not the “Father within.”
Another one of my students gave me an example of this. She took an extended trip abroad one summer, visiting many countries, where she was ignorant of the languages. She was calling for guidance and protection every minute, and her affairs went smoothly and miraculously. Her lug-
