There is, perhaps, no greater test which the student of Christian Science is called upon to endure than that of maintaining "faith and patience" when misunderstood and misjudged for the kingdom of heaven's sake. Quite often the circumstances are such that it is impossible for him to make any explanation, or to say anything which would make others see that he is in the right. To make such an attempt would be useless and might even aggravate the situation. Under such conditions the only course for him to pursue is silently to maintain his own spiritual integrity and know the truth about God and man.
This may be a comparatively easy matter when the one who is misjudging our aims and motives and actions is a stranger, but when it is one to whom we are bound by close human ties, one with whom we share the tender recollection of many a youthful frolic and escapade, or the mutual joys and sorrows of maturer years, then, indeed, we begin to realize the meaning of the Master's words, "Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple," and of the correlative passage on page 254 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "If you launch your bark upon the ever-agitated but healthful waters of truth, you will encounter storms. Your good will be evil spoken of. This is the cross. Take it up and bear it, for through it you win and wear the crown."
To maintain an attitude of unfailing helpfulness toward such a one, while never for a moment relinquishing our own grasp of truth, requires actual demonstration. It is as though the hand which we love, and which for years, perhaps, had clasped ours so close and loyally, was momentarily presenting to us the statement, "Two plus two are five," and we were expected to accept this as true. We cannot accept it. At whatever risk of being misjudged or misunderstood we must hold to the spiritual fact, and accept nothing which does not accord with it. Often at the very moment when our heart is full to overflowing with yearning love and compassion we may find ourselves accused of coldness and aloofness. One who has passed through such an experience knows something of what the Master felt when he cried, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, ... how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" Many of us have stricken out the name Jerusalem, and substituting for it that of some dear one have cried, "How would I gather you in my arms and try to lead you close to the great heart of Love, but you will not!" The verdict "ye would not" shows a closed door, just as much now as in the time of Christ Jesus.
