The sixth chapter of John's Gospel records some of Christ Jesus' most revolutionary utterances; in fact, so incomprehensible were his spiritual teachings to ears dulled by materialism that the Scripture states, "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." One can well imagine the wistfulness with which the Master put the question to the twelve, "Will ye also go away?" There must have been comfort to Jesus, and an awakened devotion in the hearts of the disciples, in the prompt reply of the sturdy Simon Peter: "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."
In the distressful days and bomb-ridden nights of the millions of brave people in the war areas, how often must the spiritually-minded realize that there is no place to turn for real safety and shelter but to God, Spirit, who is indestructible Life and uninvadable, harmonious Truth! Many years ago our ever-watchful Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, sent this tender message to her followers—and it seems very pertinent at this hour (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 263): "How blessed it is to think of you as 'beneath the shadow of a great rock in a weary land,' safe in His strength, building on His foundation, and covered from the devourer by divine protection and affection. Always bear in mind that His presence, power, and peace meet all human needs and reflect all bliss."
It would be impossible to estimate the countless turnings away from the holocaust of matter to Spirit, of tens of thousands of our brethren in these unhappy yet tremendous days of upheaval and overturning. Everyone who has even glimpsed the truths of Christian Science, whether he finds himself in the zone of combat or in the rubble of war's destruction, is instinctively striving to repudiate the hellish pictures drawn by material sense, and lift thought and gaze to the harmonies of spiritual reality; for are not these pictures too bad to be true?
