A POEM by an anonymous writer has for its central theme the rather depressing assertion that "a bird with a broken wing never soars so high again." It is one of many human maxims proved by Christian Science to be "foolishness with God," and as spiritual understanding lifts thought above materiality, it is proved that this false sense of things cannot limit right activity. The writer of the poem, as well as the human thinking which first produced the false thought, saw that mortal mind prescribes penalties for violations of its self-made laws, penalties which prevent freedom of human action and indulgence; yet one who has had the Christ scientifically revealed unto him sees that both the law and the penalties it imposes are spurious.
The average person seeking relief from sickness or sin, especially from a belief of so-called organic disease or from the effects of riotous animality, may feel that his ability to live normally has been seriously impaired. The underlying fear may cause him to exercise great caution in whatever he does, or to deny himself in ways which have seemed to be essential to his happiness. If he appeals to material medicine for help he will have his belief of a "broken wing" confirmed, and may or may not be promised partial or complete healing. But if he turns to God, through Christian Science, he will be met with two surprises. First, he will learn that no permanent impairment has occurred, because man as the image and likeness of God is spiritual and therefore is not made of stuff which can be broken. Second, such a one will be healed and in the healing will gain a new concept of activity that will open to him the possibility of higher flights than he ever dreamed of.
It is precisely at this point that a patient reveals the scope and quality of his aspiration. If he desires only to be restored to normal functioning of the body and gratification of its appetites, believing that constitutes health, he will have his reward, but it will be limited, and further bitter experience is inevitable. In II Peter this type of seeker after God is discussed in the last three verses of the second chapter: "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning." Christ Jesus himself discerned the shallowness of such seeking when he remarked that many were following him for "the loaves and fishes," failing to see the sustaining care of divine Love which the demonstration of supply symbolized.
