Why Suffer Needlessly?

        Why, when we all have a God-given right to be well and free. 


        Proof of this is found in the healing work Christ Jesus did and promised that his followers would do.  Our Master healed countless individuals who were being deprived of their physical well-being, showing that sickness is a violation of our inherent right as children of God to experience harmony in every aspect of our lives.


        An example of this is given in the thirteenth chapter of Luke, which tells of a woman so infirm she couldn't even lift herself up.  (See Luke 13:11-13)  Even though she had been in this condition for eighteen years, Jesus restored her to complete freedom through his understanding of God's law.  Would Jesus have used his knowledge of divine law to remove physical ills if we had no God-derived right o be free from them?


        You and I can avail ourselves of the healing power Jesus employed.  What we need is a demonstrable grasp of what he knew about God and man, and here the teachings of Christian Science are invaluable.  Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of this Science, writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (p. 227):  "Christian Science raises the standard of liberty and cries:  'Follow me!  Escape from the bondage of sickness, sin, and death!' Jesus marked out the way.  Citizens of the world, accept the 'glorious liberty of the children of God,' and be free!  This is your divine right."


        Underlying Jesus' words and deeds was eternal divine law, which we all can learn to apply.  Through prayer that springs from an understanding of God as the perfect, totally good Principle of the universe, and of man's actual nature as His spiritual image, we can experience genuine health.


        The concept of man as spiritual and indestructible is contrary to what the five material senses would have us believe is true of ourselves and others.  Man's spiritual status may seem far-fetched and unattainable.  But the fact remains that the true selfhood of us all is incorporeal, diseaseless, never helpless.  Our real being is the offspring of God, infinite Spirit.  We live in Spirit and are eternally above and apart from physicality and suffering.  Wholeness is the very essence of God's nature, and it is individualized in His image man.  We demonstrate sound health as we progressively give up through prayer and purification f thought the materialistic, mortal concept of man and awake to spiritual reality. It becomes clear to us that suffering couldn't have been created by an all-loving God, and that His law of only good for His children doesn't support it.


        Even when a physical condition is severe and has gone on for many years, freedom can come, as Jesus' healing of the infirm woman showed.  Healings like this (and they are taking place today) encourage us to claim and prove our God-given right to be well.


       


       

The Unreality of Inharmony

       The teachings of Christian Science have helped me in so many ways, certainly as to health.  But showing me the unreality of inharmony in daily life is right up there in blessings  In a minute I'll relate one such experience that showed me what Mary Baker Eddy points out in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures:  "The opposite discord which bears no resemblance to spirituality is not real."

        When past discordant situations, whether they seemed to occur last week or years ago, tend to flood thought, knowing that God is the only cause, that He doesn't cause evil to befall us, that He indeed knows nothing about it and doesn't see His child going through disturbing experiences, these divine facts always restore a sense of harmony. Such experiences are no more than events going on in the waking dream of life in matter, and they have only the power over us we give them.  They fade from thought when we see that they never were real.

        Someone reading this might say, "But that bad thing did happen to me, and I just can't get past it."  No it didn't, and yes you can.

        When we were living in Boston, I was in my practitioner's office downtown one day when a friend I had often helped in Christian Science called to ask if she could come for a visit.  This very nice lady came in and almost at once began acting, shall we say, in a very alarming manner.  She was upset over something and began taking it out on me.  Angry words followed.  To say I was shocked puts it mildly.  This went on for a time and I began to get worried being alone with  her in my office. She seemed about out of control.  I was quietly knowing God was with us both and soon she left.  I sat there really denying that any of this inharmony had touched her or me.  

        It wasn't long before she telephoned, apologized and asked if I could stop  by her condo in Wellesley which was on my way home.  I did and all was made up as though it had never happened. 

        Science and Health has these words which have helped me in my daily comings and goings :  "Harmony is produced by its Principle, is controlled by it, and abides with it". And in the same paragraph on page 304:  "Man's happiness is not, therefore, at the disposal of physical sense."

        They can help you, too, see the unreality of inharmony.

Staying Out of That Valley

Life for all at times can be rough,


But if we go down into depression


We just have to lift ourselves up.


I say ourselves because


No one can do this for us --


No one, that is, but Christ.


As Jesus said, our joy


Can't be taken from us.


This is divine law.


And being so, it can be counted on


To save us from a descent


We do not have to make.


When mental clouds gather


We can rely on Jesus' promise,


And not go miserably down


Into that darkness at all.




(John 16:22)

From Chaos to Calm

          When nothing seems to be going right and things are about to get out of hand, a sense of calm may be the last thing we're feeling.  We can do something about this.


        These words from the Old Testament always help me get on top of the situation."Be still, and know that I am God."  Calm is always restored when we take to heart the Scriptural promises of God's presence.  And His love for us.  We can trust Him and actually feel His command of our lives in place of the upheaval.


        God knows you and me not as buffeted material beings but as His spiritual reflection, in possession right now of His dominion and peace--the same peace that Christ Jesus manifested and said was ours.  Christ is always at hand to calm any turbulence we may be going through.




        Everything our Saviour said and did is worthy of the most careful study.  An incident recorded in the Gospel of Luke, which tells about the time Jesus and the disciples encountered a storm on the Sea of Galilee, offers great comfort.  When his frightened followers woke him with "Master, master, we perish," the winds and waves instantly ceased.  Whatever personal storm we may be going through, Christ is always in the "boat" with us.


        It is this heartfelt acknowledgement of God's allness that will always take us from chaos to calm.  Praying from the standpoint of His control of our lives will replace our materially distracted thoughts with the conviction that our loving Father--the all-directing, supremely governing intelligence of man and the universe--is indeed in charge of everything that concerns us.  Down to the tiniest detail, I have learned. What could be more comforting to us?