"Follow the directions of God as simplified in Christian Science, and though it be through deserts He will direct you into the paths of peace." So writes Mary Baker Eddy in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 361). We find God's directions in the Bible and in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" and the other writings by Mrs. Eddy. These textbooks of Christian Science unlock the deeper meanings of the Bible so that they become to us a guide, a chart of life. In these books we learn of God and of man's unchanging relationship to Him, learn that man is forever God's reflection, His image and likeness.
Spiritual progress is the most important consideration, for spiritual progress brings unfoldment in all ways. We cannot gain an understanding of God and man without progressing. Should mortal mind suggest that we are not old enough or experienced enough to follow God's directions, to apply the truths of Christian Science effectively, let us remember that Christ Jesus made it clear that to enter the kingdom of heaven we must become as little children. We do not need worldly experiences to make us Godlike or help us to gain spiritual understanding. Delving into materiality will never reveal the facts of being nor aid us to progress spiritually.
Christian Science is easy to understand. The directions of God are simple, and when we faithfully apply them the results are sure. No detail is too trivial and no problem too desperate to take to divine Mind for solution. This Science reveals that all God has made is altogether good; that He is Mind, Life, Love, Truth, Spirit, Soul, Principle; and that man is the reflection, or expression, of God. The real man knows neither youth nor age. The spiritual qualities of freshness, loveliness, purity, alertness, courage, understanding, and obedience are forever expressed by God's manifestation, or representative, man.
To follow God's directions is to have dominion over error—over wrong thinking, or false suggestions. The dominion which God bestows upon man can never be annulled, for man reflects God, whose dominion is everlasting. The Apostle Paul says (Phil. 2:13), "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." God is divine Love. When we surrender the false sense of man as material for the true concept of man as spiritual and yield ourselves wholly to God's care, we can say, "It is divine intelligence, infinite Love, that worketh in us both to will and to do of its good pleasure." Infinite Love is altogether lovely, so we can be sure that the will and pleasure of infinite Love's directing will be far better than anything we can humanly plan. Love is illimitable good.
To understand that God is our Mother as well as our Father is to find comfort and help. The human father provides for and protects his child, and the human mother comforts the little one and directs his footsteps. In reality we are all God's little ones, and our Father-Mother God guides and directs our every footstep when we learn to have faith enough to listen for and follow His directions. And how can we gain this faith? By learning through Christian Science what God and His attributes are, by knowing that man is the reflection of God, and by utilizing these truths each moment of each day.
Would we get much of practical value from mathematics if the teacher merely set forth the rules of mathematics and had us repeat these rules, but never had us use them? We make our religion practical by welcoming opportunities to apply it, instead of lamenting that we have problems to solve. Having learned that God is Love and that man is the expression of Love, we prove this great fact by living it.
When we are tempted to believe that our feelings are hurt, let us remember that only a false sense of self can be offended, and take refuge in the truth that man is not a human personality, but the idea of Love. The real man can neither hurt his brother nor be hurt by his brother. The error to be corrected is the mistaken sense that there is a selfhood apart from divine Love, yours or your brother's. When sickness or sin confronts us, we prove its falsity by knowing that since man expresses only God he is superior to godless material beliefs. In diligently and perseveringly applying these truths we are following divine Love's directions, and the results, often surprising, are always satisfying.
To trust God implicitly increases our sense of His omnipotence. The writer has been immeasurably helped by advice given her years ago by a practitioner who said, "Remember that God is omnipotent, and that means He has all the power there is, not just part of it." When we accept the truth of God's all-power and follow Love's guidance, we shall prove the power of good. Realization of the truth and the evidence of it go hand in hand. Wherever we are, all good is there. Instead of wasting time murmuring over error, let us get busy and know the truth that dispels it. Instead of asking why we are annoyed by error, we might well ask ourselves these questions: "How faithful a follower of the Way-shower am I? Am I really following our Leader as she followed Christ?"
A young woman who was studying Christian Science found her way extremely difficult. Complicated, and to her « almost desperate, problems presented themselves. A practitioner pointed out to this student that Mrs. Eddy was a true follower of the Christ, and said that if she would make her every thought and word and act conform to God's directions, made simple in Christian Science, she would find her life transformed. The following verse from a hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal (No. 311) was an inspiration to her:
So brightly burns Love's holy glow,
So constant shines its light,
That none can claim he doth not know
The pathway through the night,
For see, 'tis lit by Love divine
To trace for us His wise design.
The woman saw that she had been praying that the problem be solved in the way she had outlined, and that she had not even really been seeking God's "wise design." The trouble with mortals, she saw, is that they want to outline the way they wish to go. But this limits progress. God's way for each of us is so much higher than our willful way, for His way is wisdom's way. So she dropped her human planning and consecratedly sought to know and to do God's will. From then on she felt a perfect assurance that all was well. Not all at once but step by step the problems were solved, and she found a peace undreamed of. Great happiness and progress were hers as she continued to study Christian Science and to utilize its truths.
Material sense, or mortal mind, may argue that evil is present or has power, but material sense is absolutely spurious, because God is the only power and presence, the only Mind. It is spiritual sense which acknowledges God's presence and direction and bears witness to His power. Since evil is not real, it cannot hide God's directions from us. If we are trusting God's omnipotence, we shall not be anxious about the next step. Our beloved Leader, who lived so near to God and followed so closely the loving Master's steps in accomplishing her divine mission, says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 158): "As of old, I stand with sandals on and staff in hand, waiting for the watchword and the revelation of what, how, whither. Let us be faithful and obedient, and God will do the rest."
We need to search our hearts and pray that our motives be purified, that pride, selfishness, and human will be replaced with humility, selflessness, and obedience to God, good. If our motives are pure and we continue steadfast in prayer, our Father-Mother opens the way for us. We cannot learn too soon that it is not getting but giving, not being loved but loving, that brings the greatest happiness and unfoldment of good. Divine Love expresses itself through its idea, man. Understanding and applying this great truth, we shall find our experiences blessed by a consciousness of God's presence. So, whether we are just beginning the study of Christian Science or whether we have always known Science, let us be instant to follow God's directing. Even though the way appears to be through the deserts of human beliefs, we can thank God that we shall be led through and out of them into "the paths of peace."
