While the future is the field in which growth must take place, the now or, rather, the immediate-next-future, is the _only_ time for action. Are you possessed of fearthought, or anger, or worry, or suspicion, or jealousy, or envy, or malice, or indifference at this moment? No! You cannot be, for two distinct thoughts cannot occupy the mind at the same time, and your thought is occupied with the subject matter of this hypothesis. The next time you have any of these poisons you will have to import them afresh in response to the invitation of so mean a liar as Suspicion, or at the command of so silly a coward as Fear. Habit-of-thought-of-evil--_the devil_--will return to you for the usual easy conquest, but newly-acquired knowledge of his impotency to harm can aid Determination to resist him until Habit-of-Thought is no longer Bad-Habit-of-Thought and will, therefore, no longer assist in the materialization of the spook. And then, and _only_ then, will you be free--free to grow, eager to serve, and altogether happy. All time--all eternity--is made up of a succession of _nows_. If you are free in the present _now_, you may more easily be free from temptation in the succeeding _nows_ until emancipation shall be complete and the very atmosphere of your freedom shall exorcise all evil before it can come near enough to attract your consciousness. You are free this moment; you can be free in the succeeding moments; _you can be free forever_! IT IS EASIER THAN NOT! THEORY. The perfect man is the harmonious man. Perfection in man is attained when he is _doing his best_. Symmetry of face or of form, quality of voice, or strength of mind or muscle at birth are the responsibility of the Creator and of progenitors. The birth of the body of man is accomplished when it attains consciousness of its physical requirements. The birth of the soul of man is accomplished when he attains consciousness of what is good, of what his functions and duties are relative to his own best growth, and also relative to his uses and duties as a member of society. Man is not fully born until his mind is conscious of his body and conscious of his soul, and knows the functions and duties of each relative to the best growth. Until man is fully born, as described above, the responsibility of his perfection or imperfection rests with his teachers and their teachings. Everything that man is conscious of is his teacher. You are the teacher of every person who sees or is otherwise conscious of you or of your example. It is unmanly, and especially unchristian, not to seek the greatest possible enlightenment relative to the functions and duties in growth, not only for your own sake, but as an example for others; and, being enlightened, not to do all possible to assist growth.