What Are We Listening To?

                                                         By: John Robert Howell



        Seasoned Christian Scientists know that any attempt to grow spiritually and burgeon in demonstration will be countered by a plethora of the Adversary's discouraging arguments.  One aim should be to dwell "home, home on the [spiritual] range...where never is heard a discouraging word." A recent phrase I came across caught my attention:  "to make yourself unavailable."  That reminded me of part of the generic message that is sometimes prerecorded on answering machines: "We are unavailable to take your call."  If all of us could learn to be always unavailable to meet with and listen to animal magnetism "in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono" it would be a boon.

        It is self-evident that if one consents to listen to, observe, react to, shrink in fear from, or argue with matter or any phase of materiality he cannot be free from the claims presented.  The angels came and ministered unto Christ Jesus after he had completely rejected each of the devil's temptations.  All true Christians and Christian Scientists should learn to listen only to those unheard sweeter melodies (Keats) which will "wake a white-winged angel throng/Of thoughts" (Mary Baker Eddy), and thereby divorce from the spiritual selfhood which they are proving day by day their "Earth-bound hearts" (Hymn #265).