In her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, has stated (pp. 191, 192), "Mind, God, sends forth the aroma of Spirit, the atmosphere of intelligence." Aroma in most plants is associated with blooming, and a plant blossoms after it has pushed its roots into the ground and commenced to grow. When we are growing in the understanding of Christian Science we cannot fail to bloom and to bring forth "the aroma of Spirit, the atmosphere of intelligence."
Spiritual perception brings to light the true universe and man's immortal, eternal individuality, free, harmonious, joyous, and complete. This individuality, which emanates from and is sustained by the infinite Mind, reflects divine beauty and grandeur and, unlike the plant which blooms seasonally, it blooms continuously. At any time and under all circumstances we can lift our thought to the realization of our true being and bring forth the harmony and joy which come with the recognition of our at-one-ment with God. Someone may say. But what of sickness and unhappiness? Can anyone be joyous in their presence? When an individual identifies himself with his true source, with allpervading, all-encompassing, infinite divine Mind, Love, he no longer accepts sin, sickness, or discord as real. He then begins to rejoice in the fullness and freedom of Life.
Through the study of the Bible, together with the Christian Science textbook and other writings by Mrs. Eddy, we gain the spiritual understanding by which we can blossom forth into good works. From the Scriptures we learn how our beloved Master, Christ Jesus, worked. He often substantiated his periods of prayer on the mountains with healing works among the people. So does every student of Christian Science have the opportunity to give evidence in demonstration of the joys of Spirit, the activity of Mind, the tenderness of Soul, the steadfastness of Principle, the goodness of Love, and the purity of Life.
A student of Christian Science once observed a potted plant whose growth had been stunted. Upon releasing it from the pot the Scientist saw that all its strength had gone into its roots, for they were enormous. After the surplus of roots was eliminated, and the pot refilled with soil, the plant began to grow and to blossom. On pondering this incident in the light of divine metaphysics the student found an analogy between the experience with the plant and her own, and she reasoned thus: I do not fully express the joy, freedom, and love of God, because I am too busy striking roots, in laborious study without practice.
With the joyous acknowledgment of the completeness of Mind, in which she had her being, she relinquished a sense of false responsibility for her spiritual growth, and like the plant, began to bloom, to be joyous and expectant of all good. Thus when a person earnestly embarks upon the study of Christian Science, and his consciousness is imbued with spiritual light, the results should be apparent. His aims, aspirations, motives, and outlook on life begin to change. He is consciously embodying the good and true, and those who come within the radius of his thought cannot fail to be aware of "the aroma of Spirit, the atmosphere of intelligence."
I once crossed railroad tracks in a populated street, and there, close by the tracks, amidst gravel, mortar, and debris, a young palm tree had pushed up its head, waving its luxurious green fringes in the breeze. Recognizing the power of Mind, I paused to recollect a statement in Science and Health (p. 520), where Mrs. Eddy interprets Genesis 2:4, 5. She says, "Here is the emphatic declaration that God creates all through Mind, not through matter,—that the plant grows, not because of seed or soil, but because growth is the eternal mandate of Mind." If growth could result amidst conditions surrounding the young palm, why could not spiritual blooming take place in individual consciousness on the battlefields and in seemingly barren experiences? We know that this does happen. By radically relying on God, many an individual has been saved and sustained, has blossomed under the most distressing conditions.
Growth is the effect of the operation of Mind, and spiritual growth in Christian Science follows when we begin to recognize divine Mind as the only Mind, man's Mind, and deny the possibility or influence of any other, so-called mind. This identification precludes laborious attempts to rid ourselves of the evils which material existence imposes on mortals, and confers upon us the expression of our real, harmonious, and eternal selfhood. Thus, as the plants do not resist the manifestation of beauty and harmony, neither can those who open their thought completely to the direction of Mind, Spirit, resist the manifestation of beauty and harmony which results as they deny all beliefs in a selfhood apart from God.
Our Master well knew that human beliefs veil the harmonious manifestations of God when he said: "And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Spiritual sense informs us of the allness of God and the unreality of matter. Science declares one cause and effect. Principle and idea as one. This perception helps us to repudiate all that is unlike good, God, and thus frees us from the inharmonies which would seem real. When we disbelieve in matter as having any reality or power, we are seeing more of spiritual light, and are proving the following statement by Mrs. Eddy to be true (ibid., pp. 458, 459): "Christianity causes men to turn naturally from matter to Spirit, as the flower turns from darkness to light."
Through Christian Science we understand that man and the universe are correlated with God, Mind, and that God maintains and sustains His own creation eternally. This fact, casts out fear, fills consciousness with joy. gives us the incentive to express more of our divine nature, "the aroma of Spirit, the atmosphere of intelligence."
