Every Individual should strive continuously to make progress and to improve in every way, especially someone who has true faith in God.
In these modern times we are often considered dull or archaic when we speak of religion or faith. There is indeed a tendency among followers of existing religions to be very narrow-minded, to be old-fashioned. Members of our faith are, or should be, entirely different, exactly the opposite of that type. Rather, they should strive to make their ways of thinking opposite to the old ways.
Observe nature, which never rests, never stands still. It is constantly renewing itself, and is always progressing. All vegetation, every blade of grass, every tree, is reaching, moving toward the sky; nothing grows downward. Observe the world. Its population increases year after year; more and more lands are developed; transportation, machinery, buildings - all parts of civilization - move forward, continually evolving, always growing. Nothing goes backward.
Once we can clearly see that all things in Nature and the world are making progress every moment and are growing, we human beings should follow those larger examples and constantly work to improve ourselves. This is living in accord with Truth.
In this sense, I too am doing my best to be alert so I may become better in every way, month after month and year after year.
If people were to make progress only on the material side of life, in business, in their profession or social position, they would be like tumbleweeds, without roots and aimless in direction. True progress must include evolvement of their spiritual beings, and ennoblement of their character.
Keeping this in mind, build your own life step by step. Never being too great a hurry and do not be concerned if your development seems slow. It is all right if you make only a little progress at a time, for you will inevitably grow into an individual of noble character. Or Rather, your determination to improve yourself is proof that you have already become a fine person. As you continue to make efforts in this way, you will be more and more trusted and loved by others, everything in your life will become more harmonious, and you will attain true happiness and fulfillment. There is no doubt about that.
When I speak in this manner it may sound to some young people like antiquated moralizing, but my words are far from that. If you will follow this program of continuing self-improvement regularly, you will truly become a New Age individual.
When I observe people from the standpoint of this pattern, many seem to me to be lagging far behind in their development. They seem to have made little progress. They seem to be revolving endlessly around their old habits of thinking and speaking. It is difficult to find anything of interest in their conversations, which are almost exclusively concerned with the superficial things of life. They have no real understanding of religion, of government affairs, of philosophy or of any of the deeper aspects of life, and there is not even a hint of any awareness of the fine arts.
The Majority of the people in the world are like that, but I am not writing this article as a criticism of them. I hope that those of you who follow this spiritual path, at least, are is not this Old Age type, and I Know there are not many of you who are.
As You know, our church is working to help God in His Plan to save the entire world at this great transitional period, and our goal is to build a new, ideal world by awakening as many people as possible to the errors of the old civilization. It is for this reason I say repeatedly that you should strive to be part of the twenty-first-century civilization.
