Mortal mind, with its load of unreal beliefs, constantly imposes upon tired humanity useless human opinions, criticism, and evil suggestion. Oh, how comforting it is for those disappointed ones bowed down with the belief of power in evil to experience the kindness and gentleness of love that is expressed to them by one who has found the peace of divine Love!
The beauty of holiness filled the pure life of our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy. And because of her fervent love and compassion for mankind she was spiritually inspired to write the precious volume, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," that the message of Truth with its mighty healing power might pour abundant peace and joy into the lives of all men. Storms of mortal criticism raged about her, but the understanding of infinite Life, Truth, and Love filled her with "the wisdom that is from above," which "is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."
The voice of the Christ, speaking through the pages of Science and Health, resounds with the certainty of Truth. On page 399 we read: "The one Mind, God, contains no mortal opinions. All that is real is included in this immortal Mind." Many around us seem imprisoned in the darkness of human beliefs and are struggling to be set free. Are we using our opportunity to pour the oil of gentleness and mercy upon the troubled waters of mortal mind and to soothe and heal the brokenhearted with the understanding of Truth? Are we lending a hand to the needy one walking by our side? Are we comforting and sustaining the sick and sorrowful with gentle words of Life and Love?
A kind word spoken in season, courteous attention given another, or a thoughtful act performed with grace and consideration truly reveals the child of God. When such devotion to Love is realized, human will yields to the warmth of divine Love.
We should bear in thought that man is the spiritual idea of God. Every individual is in reality an image and likeness of divine Love, expressing perfection. Soul perpetually expresses the glory of infinite Spirit, Life, and supreme intelligence through the sons and daughters of God. These pure ideas of Truth, obedient to divine Principle, reflect Love, respond to Love.
Untempered human entusiasm brings unexpected grief, for impetuosity is not a quality of divine Mind. The evil produced by the subtle working of a wrong argument ensnares the innocent into a net of erring human opinions. Many sincere individuals have suffered through their untempered zeal in forcing their new-found joy upon others. However, the faithful warrior for Truth need not mourn or be discouraged, for through righteous endeavor to reflect good he will daily experience the joyful victory over the material sense of self which comes with the unfoldment in his consciousness of divine wisdom.
We all have the God-given right to think and act rightly for ourselves. We should not be captious, peremptory, and imperious; nor should we rush impetuously into the affairs of others. These actions dampen the spirit of Christianity and retard progress. If we love as Jesus loved, we shall never trespass upon the rights of others by misjudging or condemning them.
Let us prayerfully guard our conversation by realizing that a gentle touch of genuine love and compassionate understanding will do more for the sick, the sinning, and the unfriendly than can any mode of human reasoning. Let us be patient at all times, striving continuously, with unceasing prayer, to be honest with all men, and thus prove that the truest justice is also mercy.
As faithful students of Christian Science, it is our joyful privilege to love our neighbor by completely and unreservedly seeking the thoughts which come from divine Mind, God, and thus letting Him direct and govern us. As we do this, we shall obey the Master's command to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils," because we shall have subdued the material sense of self by humbly opening our consciousness to the glorious fact that God and man are forever united in the established kingdom of perfect harmony, good health, and good works.
Our beloved Master, Christ Jesus, abode in immortal Mind. He never acknowledged mortal law. The purity of his thoughts separated good from evil, and so endowed him with the gentleness of Love and mercy toward men of all nations, climes, and creeds.
Jesus recognized the eternal all-ness of God, good, and he was governed by divine law. He manifested the Christ, which is ever at one with the Father, and therefore available to all men. He never questioned God's wisdom and everlasting love, nor did he make concessions to the belief of imperfection. He knew that God and His idea, man, coexist in perfection, and are forever inseparable. Therefore, he overcame mortal mind, because he knew that it was discordant, unloving—unreal—because it was without foundation in Truth. Jesus' understanding of infinite Life, Truth, and Love made him mighty.
What power and might belong to us as the sons and daughters of God, reflections of good! Well may we sing with the Psalmist, "Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: ... and thy gentleness hath made me great."
Christian Scientists joyfully lift up their voices in praise to God for the revelation of Truth which has come to the world through Mrs. Eddy's unselfish devotion to God, infinite good. The fruits of her great labor of love are widely evident today through the manifestation of the Christ-healing revealed in Christian Science. We are deeply grateful to know that the steady growth of the Christian Science movement is the outcome of the spiritual understanding and demonstration of divine Life, Truth, and Love in the lives of those who are finding that the "fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
Kind looks, kind words, kind acts, and warm handshakes—these are secondary means of grace when men are in trouble and are fighting their unseen battles.—
