A freshman with a forlorn, bewildered look was found wandering the halls at a large state university. An upperclassman stopped to help.
"I can't find my English 101 class. It says Room 205, but there is no one there."
The more seasoned student looked at the registration slip and immediately asked with a smile, "Did you ever stop to think that you might be in the wrong building?"
Is there a heavy burden of grief? Does lack loom on all sides? Does a diagnosis threaten your prospects for health? Are you nursing hurt feelings? Are you confused as to your place and purpose? Sometimes we go about with a confused feeling of concern over some unsolved problem, some unhealed condition, some perplexing misunderstanding. At such a time we might remember the upperclassman's question, and ask ourselves if we're in the wrong "building." Through Christian Science we can move to the right "building"—Church.
In the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy has included a glossary of Bible-associated terms to give us a clearer insight into the inspiration of the Scriptures. Two of these terms are "Babel" and "Church." An understanding of these two buildings or structures as indicative of states of thinking can help in overcoming a confused, frightened, bewildered outlook.
The tower of Babel—the attempt of men to build a structure of great height for the purpose of making a name for themselves —has always been synonymous with confusion. In the second paragraph of Mrs. Eddy's definition of "Babel" she writes, "The higher false knowledge builds on the basis of evidence obtained from the five corporeal senses, the more confusion ensues, and the more certain is the downfall of its structure." Science and Health, p. 581;
When our thinking is based primarily on material knowledge, we're in the wrong building. The more we try to reason from and build on the testimony of the material senses, the more confusion follows. One of the most graphic portrayals of this kind of thinking is that of the biblical character, Job, whose reasoning from a human basis only led to greater despair. As he puzzled over the calamities that had befallen him and his futile attempt to find meaning and order in his life, he uttered, "I am full of confusion." Job 10:15;
Only when he was ready to leave the basis of human logic and start from an acknowledgment of God did he discover peace, fulfillment, satisfaction, healing. Then he could declare with great joy, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee."42:5;
His thought was no longer confined to material knowledge, to a Babel state. Rather was it now proceeding from unerring, orderly Principle. He acknowledged divine law. And he was lifted out of anguish and bewilderment.
The definition of "Church" in the Glossary reads in part, "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." Science and Health, p. 583;
Isn't this the "building" we are really in and wish to be in?
Like Job, many of us find ourselves facing situations that seem totally inexplicable or incomprehensible. Reasoning merely humanly, there may be no satisfying answer. This is the time to ask oneself, "Is my thinking Babel-based or Principle-based?"
Some time ago I was faced with a crippling physical condition that didn't yield to my most consecrated efforts. I sought help from a Christian Science practitioner, but there was no immediate improvement apparent. In fact, it appeared the condition was worsening. Healing remained beyond the horizon.
Shortly before this condition appeared, I had given up my role in a successful new business, which offered great potential, in order to devote my full time to a career that I felt would be of greater service to God and man. Since my motive had been unselfish, I found it hard to understand why this affliction had come to suggest confusion, pain, fear, and suffering.
Some days I prayed with great joy, knowing that my thought was truly proceeding "from divine Principle." Other days I found myself trying to reason from a material standpoint. When physical progress was evident, I found it easy to maintain an elevated thought. However, on days when pain and rigidity were evident, I began reasoning again from the basis of material evidence. At such times the wrestling was apparently fruitless. But in the midst of discouragement the realization would come that the seeming fruitlessness was due to a wrong basis of thinking. And out of Babel and back into Church I'd go! This vacillating state of thought tried to dominate my praying for several weeks.
The practitioner steadfastly remained unmoved by the evidence. He never left Church for the tower of Babel. Then one day the confusion of thought, the seeming reality of the pain, and the discouragement appeared so overwhelming that the suggestion of just giving up seemed an attractive one. But the downfall of Babel's structure was imminent! With keen discernment the practitioner roused my thinking and asked me to give prayerful, deep consideration to a statement Mrs. Eddy makes in an article entitled "Loyal Christian Scientists": "No evidence before the material senses can close my eyes to the scientific proof that God, good, is supreme." Miscellaneous Writings, p. 277;
I began unreservedly to leave my matter-based thinking for a new standpoint. I knew I should accept only the evidence that comes from God, Spirit. No longer would the evidence of matter or the material senses be allowed to determine my status for me. I began at once to appreciate Christ Jesus' teaching in his Sermon on the Mount when he instructed his listeners, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matt. 6:24.
I saw that I had been trying to serve two masters. Turning away from the Babel-consciousness of confusion and frustration, I now checked all the evidence I was accepting. When suggestions of pain came, I realized that because God, Spirit, is omnipresent, there can be no belief of sensation in matter.
Confusion was denied on the basis of the supremacy of the one Mind, God. I was no longer confused by the evidence of the five material senses; I was enlightened by the evidence of spiritual sense. Inactivity was counteracted quickly because I knew God to be Life and therefore only the evidence of Life could be accepted as real. A lack of coordination could not exist where God's law of harmony, the law of Soul, is in full operation. Whatever information came to me through matter, I realized, was totally unreliable, untrue, because God, Truth, is supreme. Basing my reasoning on unerring, immutable divine Principle, I was freed from vacillation. I had left Babel for good, and was ready to stay in the "right building." I no longer relied on the physical evidence in appraising my condition.
I joyfully stayed in "the structure of Truth and Love." There was no more discouragement, no doubt, no confusion. Then one day, in a most natural way, I put on a pair of high-heeled shoes and started to walk to a friend's house. After walking for about ten minutes I suddenly realized that I was completely healed! I had not been able to wear high heels since the problem had faced me. I was completely free and resumed my household duties and my newfound career. I could now say with Job, "Now mine eye seeth thee," because I had moved out of Babel into Church!
