WHEN an individual goes to a musician, a teacher of music, and seems to manifest many erroneous notions concerning music, the teacher is not at all alarmed at this sense of discord, but immediately begins to separate the errors from the pupil. He does this, not by holding fast to the discord, but by turning the thought of the pupil to the harmony of music. In fact, during the whole experience the teacher is not troubled by the discord, but constantly and persistently turns the pupil's thought toward concord. Similarly, when a person goes to a Christian Science practitioner with a consciousness filled with lack, sin, and disease,— the discords of the world, —the practitioner at once begins to impart an understanding, not of the error, but of God, man, and the universe, knowing that this will uplift thought to the perception of the truth of being, where harmony prevails.
In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says (p. 304): "To be master of chords and discords, the science of music must be understood. Left to the decisions of material sense, music is liable to be misapprehended and lost in confusion. Controlled by belief, instead of understanding, music is, must be, imperfectly expressed." She then goes on to say, "So man, not understanding the Science of being,— thrusting aside his divine Principle as incomprehensible,— is abandoned to conjectures, left in the hands of ignorance, placed at the disposal of illusions, subjected to material sense which is discord." In the vision given him on the Isle of Patmos, the Revelator foresaw the coming into consciousness of the understanding which should heal all discordant conditions, and bring harmony to earth. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
Many persons desire to become musicians, but when they begin to see what is demanded of them to reach and demonstrate, in a measure, the beauty of music, they are apt to fall away, robbing themselves of the wonderful opportunity to express and enjoy it. In like manner, many may desire holiness, and freedom from the discords of the world; but when they begin to see the demands of Jesus, "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: . . . and if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee,"— which means that one must be willing to cast off the most cherished beliefs,— they are apt to turn back, so depriving themselves of an opportunity of enjoying and demonstrating health, holiness, and life eternal.
In Science and Health we read (p. 11), "We know that a desire for holiness is requisite in order to gain holiness; but if we desire holiness above all else, we shall sacrifice everything for it." It is easier to desire spiritual life, with its heavenly joy, than it is actually to experience this advanced state of consciousness through faithful effort to win it. If the student who is about to study music will do all in his power to advance in accord with that desire, he can be assured that the day will come when he will be able to express the beauty of music. Likewise, to the one approaching Christian Science it can be positively stated, regardless of what sense-testimony is saying, that if he is faithful, and doing all in his power to advance, the day will certainly come when he will enjoy health and all the glories of God's universe.
When John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, he said, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." In Science and Health (p. 587) Mrs. Eddy gives the definition of "heaven" as "harmony; the reign of Spirit; government by divine Principle; spirituality; bliss; the atmosphere of Soul." This heaven, or harmony, John said, is "at hand"; it is within our reach here and now, and is for us all to use. With harmony ever present, where, then, does discord come from — discord manifesting itself in our bodies, our businesses, and so forth? The answer is and always will be that discords in the world, as in music, have only a fabulous existence and originate in the mortal or carnal mind, which Paul said "is enmity against God." When human thought is educated or elevated to see and understand the spiritual fact, that all cause is God, and therefore all effect must be harmonious and eternal, discords will disappear, and the harmonious universe of God will be seen.
A student who had been studying for years without proper teaching came to the writer to study music. This case required reeducation, or the putting off of the old for the new. Position of the hands, the bow, and the instrument—in fact, all preconceived ideas of the instrument — had to be given up. The changes seemed difficult, but step by step they were made, and some years later the student expressed his gratitude for the experience.
When Nicodemus, who had been taught and who had probably taught others improperly regarding God and man, sought Jesus for information, our Master went to the root of the matter at once. He informed Nicodemus that he had to be reborn; that is. he had to give up his preconceived ideas regarding God, man, and the universe. This rebirth or reeducation is the work that Christian Scientists are concerned in; and those who come to it and make the necessary change willingly will some day realize their indebtedness to Christian Science and express their gratitude.
If a mistake is made in the premise, the conclusion can never be right. Therefore, to be successful a student must always be willing to change whatever may be wrong in his thinking. Most individuals turning to Christian Science for help find that, in many respects, they have been improperly taught. They may have been educated to begin with the second chapter of Genesis and to accept the man formed "of the dust of the ground," the so-called fallen man, as their model. With such the Christian Scientist goes right to the root of the matter, just as did Jesus with Nicodemus. He lovingly leads the student's thought to the first chapter of that book, where we read, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion." When Christian Scientists speak of man in God's image and likeness, they mean that man, in Science, is the infinite idea, reflection, or manifestation of the divine Mind. He neither sins, suffers, nor dies, but is as the saints of heaven, manifesting only God's goodness. Advancing from this point, and holding fast to the fact that God is All, the student finds himself undergoing a great change from the material to the spiritual, from the belief in sickness, sin, and death to the understanding of God—Life, Truth, and Love. It is impossible for one to live in God without being in accord with His harmonious creation.
In our travel from sense to Soul we seem to be persistently beset by a claim or condition which says that we are not advancing; that we are failures. If the proper work regarding this suggestion is not done, then discouragement, which is perhaps the devil's greatest tool, oftentimes tempts a young student to go back to his old way of living. Why complain if trials seem severe? Through facing them the greatest good comes. When Paul was overwhelmed with trouble he turned to God, whom he knew as a present help. Consequently, he could say that he would rather rejoice and glory in reproaches, persecution, and trouble than be discouraged by them, because he knew that the all-sufficient power of God would bear him on until he was more than conqueror.
When a musician is confronted with something he cannot yet play— and this happens quite often, for the higher he climbs the more difficult his music becomes—he does not complain, but works on until he learns or understands the composition more thoroughly. Then he is ready for something still higher. So we must not cease from our labor until the trouble is corrected according to divine Principle; and then we shall be ready for that blessed benediction, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Success in any line of endeavor represents constant toil and sacrifice of personal ease or pleasure. Mindful of this, and allowing no argument of failure or discouragement to alter or interfere with our plans or sway us from the right, we shall advance until we gain the full understanding of God as All-in-all.
After many years of faithful study the student of music goes forth with joy to demonstrate what he has studied. In like manner, those who have been sincere, steadfast, and loyal to the teachings of Christian Science can go forth into the world and demonstrate what has been so clearly stated by our beloved Leader, namely, that harmony is real and immortal.
