What an insistent and grievous part the proverbial "rainy day" has played in the lives of mankind. Anticipation of this day of clouds and darkness often shadows an otherwise sunny present; and the statement frequently made to children that "we must save for a rainy day," has sadly restricted immediate hopes and happy plans, besides forming the basis of a false education, tending to handicap them through the years. One day, in the midst of a particularly heavy downpour, a mother from whose lips this phrase was often heard, was asked by her little girl, "Is this the day you have been saving for?" The child doubtless believed that as a result of the saving some joyousness might be indulged in that would lighten the dulness of the rainy day now actually come upon them. Was this Mrs. Eddy's attitude of mind when she wrote, "He who dwelleth in eternal light is bigger than the shadow, and will guard and guide His own" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 134)?
Such a ponderous wall of narrowing laws, beliefs, and superstitions has been built up around our human living, that it is no wonder we often feel hemmed in on all sides, and send forth a longing cry for freedom; yet the ones within these walls have now, and always have had, God-given dominion. It is not that we should be wasteful or spend recklessly, lest we involve others as well as ourselves in a slough of indebtedness; but, reasoning from a spiritual basis, we should confidently feel that our actual needs will be supplied, at the same time looking well to the quality of these same needs. We need first of all to know God, and then man in His image, and right there is completeness and abundance: first in consciousness, and then outwardly expressed as the result of a true conception of completeness. This is the only correct reasoning or foundation for gain of any kind; it is eternally true and never fails.
Jesus taught that "sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," and surely we may declare that sufficient unto the day is also the rain thereof. If the rain comes, we shall certainly be sheltered from it if we seek its lesson; and if perchance we have to face it for a time, the days of glorious sunshine in memory's storehouse will serve to keep us warm and happy in spite of and in the midst of passing shadows; for pass they must and will. We all love the patient philosophy of Abraham Lincoln, who in the midst of most grievous situations would habitually say, "This too will pass." Why not reform the old adage, and save for sunny days? They are bound to come, especially if we confidently look for them, knowing too that even rainy days are but preparation for the radiant brightness sure to follow.
In this troublesome old proverb the word "save" is used in the sense of hoarding or laying up money or its equivalent, with never a thought of a better kind of saving. One is to accumulate so that in case things "go wrong" he may have something to "fall back on." Why should there be such utter lack of faith in a loving Father who has given us "richly all things to enjoy"? Why have we so blindly failed to recognize and claim the rightful heritage of His children? Surely not because of the teachings of the Man of Nazareth, for he said, "If God so clothe the grass of the field, ... shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" It is wisdom to lay aside a reasonable amount, that one may continually manifest that abundance which is part of his birthright, and that he may befriend others in temporary need, but surely not from any sense of fear or of distrust for the future.
To gain spiritual treasures, and as we gain to share with others, is to save and to give at the same time; and this is the useful groundwork upon which material economy may be wisely shaped. The happiest thing and the most loving is to save for joyous days, that we out of our abundance and happy plans can serve others, showing them too the value of that wise conservation which leads to individual independence and happiness. It is absolutely imperative that one should seek first the kingdom of God, and then other things will take care of themselves. The "rainy day" theory reckons wholly with the material, and many to their bewilderment have met with failure through following it. A similar process of seeking spiritual things first and anticipating only good, brings sure results and accomplishments in every direction.
Jesus has been called "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." yes; and why? That he might show us the way out of it all; that he might lead us to our true inheritance, and share with us, his brethren, his own clear knowledge of the universal fatherhood and motherhood of Love. Such was the purpose of this patient, trusting life; but how little humanity has profited by it. Some would say how poor he was, and all because their viewpoint is so pathetically wrong. Surely he was the richest man we have ever known, "having nothing," as Paul says, "and yet possessing all things," and he proved the all-sufficiency of this. To lack all things materially, possess all things spiritually, is to be consciously one with God.
As we read the parable about "a certain rich man" whose ground "brought forth plentifully," and his selfish plan of hoarding and saving,—preparing for a "rainy day,"—we may well ponder what God said to him at the very climax of it all. The lessons which the great Teacher drew from this parable are marvelous in their simplicity and power. After indicating what must needs come to him who "layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God," he adjures them to seek first "the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added," mingled with the assuring words, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Having the "kingdom,"—the awakened sense of the allness and ever-presence of good within one's consciousness,—there is nothing more to be desired, since human conditions must needs respond to such confident right thinking. The trouble is that humanity fail to accord the bounteous Father a chance to give them the kingdom, because they are so absorbingly busy trying to get one for themselves without His help. Anxiously looking for rainy days, they miss the full brightness of the sunny ones. Since God is All, the one source of everything good and therefore needful, in seeking Him with all our hearts we find abundance to meet our every need, however that need may be manifested. Infinite resources are always close at hand, and in the measure that we draw upon them we surely receive, at the same time learning that many seeming needs are needs no longer. In "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy tells us that "Truth is the power of God which heals the sick and the sinner, and is applicable to all the needs of man" (p. 259.)
Material possessions are but symbols, and as we seek and think upon spiritual needs and strive to gain them, the outward signs of gain and growth are bound to follow, because of a consciousness of right abundance. Having an inward assurance of the possession of all things needful, we are no longer cumbered and burdened. Material possessions of themselves, and hoarded for themselves, bring weariness; and if gathered from selfish motives and for personal gain, we become irrevocably narrowed and limited in the weary process. When we have acquired our little material heap, what is it we have gained, even though we have had to tear down our barns and build greater in order to contain it? A lot of things,—destructible, perishable, unresponsive to our yearnings, inadequate to give us any real or lasting joy. The non-intelligent can not satisfy intelligence; the material can never feed the spiritual. Looked upon as a legitimate result of the gain of spiritual treasures, with the outward expression secondary and temporal, one finds security and power. Spending of our joy, strength, love, and abundance to bring happiness into the lives of others, it all comes back to us a hundredfold.
The free, joyous, light bringing teaching of Christian Science is, that to the one who keeps his thought filled with the sure knowledge of good, there are no rainy days; that the present minute is the only minute, and that in it "the Lord God omnipotent reigneth;" that the light of eternal Truth shines everywhere, and admits no darkness. Then why "save up" for something which never comes, for one can have so much stored up sunshine, if he will, that there is no troublesome consciousness of rain; there is the thought of refreshment, purification, inspiration, but no darkness, lack, depression, or fear. In the material process of accumulation more doubts, fears, and worries are heaped high than anything else, and are found not only valueless but burdensome. They stand merely as types of the stones that must be rolled away before we can begin even to think about the kingdom of which the Master taught, and of which he had taken such full and complete possession. On page 520 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy inspiringly writes: "The depth, breadth, height, might, majesty, and glory of infinite Love fill all space. That is enough!"
