HOURLY, throughout the world today, healing through the study and application of Christian Science is taking place. On Wednesday evenings in almost every part of the civilized world, men and women rise to their feet and tell of remarkable and beautiful healings. In The Christian Science Journal, Sentinel, and Heralds well-attested accounts of healing are published weekly and monthly, and innumerable healings take place that are not generally heard of. There is no longer any ground for doubt or question in regard to the healing efficacy of Christian Science. He who questions, does so because he has been unwilling or has had no opportunity to investigate the effectual operation of spiritual law as Christian Science reveals and demonstrates it. That Christian Science heals quickly and permanently even those which had been regarded as stubborn and apparently hopeless cases of sin and sickness, is being proved again and again.
In the days of Jesus, and for about three hundred years after his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, quick and powerful healings took place. Then this healing power dwindled and apparently was lost until the discovery of Christian Science restored the lost element of healing to a weary, sick, and sin-laden world. There is need today for keeping this healing active and progressive, that it may not again be lost to the world.
The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, writes in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 355): "Less teaching and good healing is to-day the acme of 'well done;' a healing that is not guesswork,—chronic recovery ebbing and flowing,—but instantaneous cure. This absolute demonstration of Science must be revived." In these words may be seen a far-flung challenge to students of Christian Science. The question may be asked, Why are quick and permanent healings not more general today? Perhaps there has been a too easy yielding to the suggestion that it must take time to solve a given problem. Perhaps apathy has entered into the work and a sufficiently positive stand has not been taken. Perhaps the excuses offered by mortal mind for work badly done, or left undone, have been accepted. Perhaps a false. sense of submission to error has been mistaken for righteous waiting upon God.
In the description in Revelation of the ideal spiritual state of consciousness, the Revelator writes, "There should be time no longer." Time is a mortal concept. If, in radical reliance upon God, we are striving to solve a problem, endeavoring to admit no aid from matter and its agents, should we not see that time also must be excluded in the healing process? We read in II Corinthians, "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Both he who seeks healing and he who helps another must have a high expectancy that today the demonstration or healing can take place. The arguments of apathy, laziness, and procrastination may try to obstruct progressive demonstration. A positive sense of the power and presence of God, here and now, must be established and maintained in our consciousness and actions in order that positive, fruitful work may be done. Positive activity grows out of positive thinking. Our minute by minute thinking and knowing, our convictions and our affirmations, must be on the side of God, of spiritual good —never on the side of matter or error. Mortal mind is prone to be satisfied with effort made rather than attainment gained. The standard in Christian Science is perfection, and nothing less than achievement of the end sought should satisfy.
There must always be patient waiting upon Love to point the way, to illumine thought and support the understanding, in order that the harmonious state of man in God's image, already created and maintained in divine Mind, may be recognized as reality. This righteous patience not only demands the silencing of self-will and domination, but it also demands humble willingness to be led by divine wisdom. Dull acceptance of the error for a time and the postponement of the realization of good must not be mistaken for the patience which is an attribute of God.
In her beautiful article entitled "The Way," in "Miscellaneous Writings," Mrs. Eddy points out three vital and necessary steps to spiritual growth. They are: self-knowledge, humility, and love.
Self-knowledge, through constructive self-examination and the consequent rooting out and overcoming of material beliefs, temperamental faults, and sinful practices, makes for clarity of thought. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 295), "The manifestation of God through mortals is as light passing through the window-pane;" and this well defines the thought of a practitioner of Christian Science. The highest purity must be exemplified in desire and living, if instantaneous and permanent healing is to take place.
Humility is the second step which marks the ascending way. Without humility one cannot understand Christian Science. Without humility there can be no individual growth Spiritward; and without humility one cannot succeed in helping to solve another's problems. Humility does not mean servility. The great spiritual teacher of mankind, Christ Jesus, the greatest exponent of humility, said to his disciples, "I am among you as he that serveth." He always pointed away from himself to God as the source of all good. He also said, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." So we, as followers of his teachings, must in pure humility lay aside all sense of self, pride of opinion, and preconceived theories and look perpetually to divine Mind for increased understanding.
Love, the highest point of attainment, is most necessary in preparation for all our work as Christian Scientists. On pages 357 and 358 of "Miscellaneous Writings" we read, "Divine Love is the substance of Christian Science, the basis of its demonstration, yea, its foundation and superstructure." In the proportion that one loves, one lives. The great need of the world today is for more love, more compassion, greater spirituality, more devout consecration — all of which means that there must be an ever-increasing realization of love for God and for mankind.
The healing work in Christian Science is a co-operative activity, and one who asks for treatment must express this co-operation as conscientiously as possible. He, too, must be awake and maintain the mental attitude of spiritual listening. He, too, must have a high expectancy of good, and know that "this is the day which the Lord hath made," and that he can "rejoice and be glad in it," because, as God's image, he is spiritual and perfect now.
Healing, whether of sickness or sin, is always the correction of wrong thinking. Therefore, the process of solving a given problem, whether it be one of sickness, sin, financial difficulty, domestic inharmony, or broken friendship, may include a number of healings, all of which are steps on the way toward the final harmonious result.
May we as Christian Scientists be alert in our thinking and our declarations of Truth. May we maintain high expectancy of good, be thorough, clear, and absolute in our work. May our love become purer, more impersonal, more universal, more selfless each day. Then our demonstration of the laws of Spirit will be a progressive demonstration, and instantaneous, complete, and permanent healing will not fail to be preserved through the ages until universal salvation is attained.
