WHEN, through the study of Christian Science, one gains some recognition of Life as God, eternal, unchanging, infinite—and the consequent nothingness, unreality, and falsity of the changing concepts of so-called mortal mind,—a song of gratitude wells up in the heart. This unfolding knowledge of the allness of God, divine Mind, robs one of nothing real, but rather does it begin to show forth the beauty of infinite good. Life, love, friendship, peace, health, harmony, all that makes for spiritual joy is ours eternally, for it has its source in Him, "with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Glimpsing in some degree this spiritual fact, a sweet, calm confidence fills consciousness, for the moment when one begins to realize this truth for himself that moment it reaches out to those upon whom his thoughts rest. Thus the old anxious thought once bestowed upon those near and dear, whom we call by the sacred name of friends, gives place to a broader, higher, purer sense of love, even to a perception of divine Love, God, who cares for and protects and guides all His children.
Christian Science brings wonderful glimpses of what constitutes true friendship, thus uncovering the false human sense which would make mere personal companionship its goal. It teaches that God is the source of all good and that what one truly loves in his friend is the reflection of God's qualities and attributes; that one must learn to love this reflected good, these gleams of infinite light, which prove that the Christ-spirit there abides. One, therefore, must cease to worship personality. Then friendship becomes helpful intercourse with those of God's household. In the expression of tender, compassionate love it rises above human yearning or desire to spiritual accomplishment; and is characterized by joyful sharing of spiritual visions and the conscious, unchanging ability to recognize the divine protection of the infinite Father-Mother God, whose channels, through which inexhaustible blessings flow, are never limited or inadequate.
Jesus said, "I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." What did he make known to his friends, and through them to all mankind? Even the infinite reality of spiritual existence; immortal Mind, God, as Father-Mother, and man as His image and likeness. Through his wonderful life work Jesus proved divine Mind's absolute control over every seeming material condition. We read in the Scriptures, "While he blessed them, he was parted from them." What a lesson to humanity! Realizing that his followers were in danger of becoming worshipers of personality instead of understanding the divine Principle which he was demonstrating, "he blessed them,"— caused them to give up the false personal sense of him,—"and was parted from them." This spiritual perception of the incorporeal Christ as the idea of Truth, neither in nor of matter, separated them from the personal sense of Jesus and lifted their thought to the infinite source of all good, even to God, in whom there can be no separation. What an ideal as a basis for friendship! What a glorious privilege and inspiration is revealed to those who express this ideal and find it reciprocated! This is the sense of friendship to which Mrs. Eddy must have referred when she wrote in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 248), "One marvels that a friend can ever seem less than beautiful." Such friends are God's white-winged messengers, reflections of His love.
