"What you need is a man with you." This remark was made to a woman whom a few friends were seeing off on a journey to another country about three thousand miles away. Immediately came the reply, "I have man with me." Later, on the plane, thought reverted to this statement made with such surety and confidence, and she asked herself exactly what she had meant by her reply. Naturally, her thought turned with gratitude to Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, who had been given the revelation of the truths of God and man, and who has given to the world today through her life and writings the ability to know man as God creates him, an idea dwelling always in the one divine Mind, ever spiritual, perfect, and complete, an individualized expression of Life, Truth, and Love.
When Christian Science heals us of some physical condition which has defied materia medica for years, the tenor of our thought is changed, and a reaching out to God for that spiritual understanding which reveals His allness and man's oneness with all that is good takes first place in our lives. Though we may have received an instantaneous healing of some form of sickness and are enjoying abundant health, this does not mean that we immediately prove our wholeness and completeness. No, "for precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Isa. 28:10).
Throughout the writings of Mrs. Eddy the perfection of God and man is acknowledged. We are being taught to know God, to know man as His idea, but this knowing has to be proved individually. Mrs. Eddy says in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 242): "You can never demonstrate spirituality until you declare yourself to be immortal and understand that you are so. Christian Science is absolute; it is neither behind the point of perfection nor advancing towards it; it is at this point and must be practised therefrom. Unless you fully perceive that you are the child of God, hence perfect, you have no Principle to demonstrate and no rule for its demonstration."
Patient persistence is requisite, for there may seem to be some stumbling, some resistance to Truth, an unwillingness perhaps to let go of a cherished mortal concept of living, a belief that goodness can be material. However, it is quite certain that where there truly is the desire to know and prove the teachings of Christian Science, an acceptance of spiritual ideas in place of false beliefs, a readiness to see only that which is good as true and every suggestion of evil as untrue, false concepts and erroneous beliefs fade away into their native nothingness and the man of God's creating begins to appear.
The contemplation of the life and work of Christ Jesus reveals that he was ever conscious of his own completeness and of the completeness of those who turned to him for healing. In every one of the wonderful accounts of healing given to us in the New Testament we see how conscious he was of God's infinite presence and of man as the perfect manifestation of Him. Never for one moment did he accept the suggestions of evil which were thrust upon him, but he calmly knew that God is the only Life of man; that Spirit is the true source of supply; that the senses of man are eternally perfect, existing in Soul—and his right knowing brought about the proofs of the completeness of God's creation.
How truly our beloved Leader accepted the fullness and completeness of the revelation of Truth to her consciousness. She cherished every idea as it unfolded to her thought, and we today are benefited by her firm allegiance to God and by her many proofs of the coexistence of infinite Mind and its ideas.
Christian Science practitioners, through consecrated study and living of the truth they understand, keep before their thought the wholeness, soundness, completeness, and perfection of God and His universe and man. They endeavor through their understanding of the one Mind to keep free from the mesmeric suggestions of discord which are presented to them. Because they acknowledge God's infinitude they are able to refuse to agree with the evidence of the physical senses, which Christian Science shows to be unreal, lifeless, lawless, and powerless. The proving of man's eternal unity with God in each individual thought is helping to establish the kingdom of heaven here upon earth and to bring about the Christ-healing of all discordant beliefs. Every healing which takes place in Christian Science is a definite proof of the completeness of God's creation and the nonexistence of evil beliefs.
It is a joyous moment when the student of Christian Science realizes that God made man perfect and complete; when he knows that he, as God's reflection, includes within his own consciousness all that is essential for his health, well-being, companionship, happiness, and supply. How helpful it is for a woman to see that her true being is inseparable from her Father-Mother God and is therefore complete and satisfied; to know that her true being does not depend upon a person or a thing for existence, happiness, or supply, but already includes by reflection of divine Love all that is needful for harmony and well-being. True womanhood not only expresses tenderness and love, but also includes strength, dominion, and perfect ability to express freedom.
The masculine thought can claim the qualities of love and gentleness, trust and confidence, which are usually associated with the feminine. True manhood is a complete idea. It lacks nothing. Our understanding of these truths brings to light all that is necessary for peace of mind, contentment, and joyous living.
As long as we feel dependent upon another for our joy, supply, and well-being, we are accepting some suggestion of separation and are not fully acknowledging man's oneness with Soul as its whole and complete expression. Everything we require comes through the unfoldment in consciousness of the perfect identity of the spiritual idea, man. The proving of our own completeness, as God's idea, does not shut us off from others, but rather enables us to see their perfection and immortality in Mind. In this way we lose our anxiety for our loved ones and become a blessing to each other.
Thus the student referred to at the beginning of this article saw, whilst traveling by air from one continent to another, that because her journey was a legitimate one her every need would be supplied through the realization and demonstration of the divine law of completeness. She saw that man is forever complete and includes the right sense of business, home, health, and companionship. Such knowing is the privilege of every Christian Scientist. Referring to Jesus' words, "The kingdom of God is within you," our Leader says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p.574), "This spiritual consciousness is therefore a present possibility."
The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have
pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his
righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful,
works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of com
passion....The works of his hands are verity and judgment: all
his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever,
and are done in truth and uprightness,—Psalms 111:2-4, 7, 8.
