The human family is universally concerned with relationships. And in these relationships, problems may arise, whether involving a parent, a spouse, a child, a special friend, a business associate, a teacher, teammate, fellow church member, government official, or a foreign country. Maintaining a harmonious relationship with everyone is highly to be desired but difficult to achieve—if we judge by the record of human history. As for a "perfect relationship," highly improbable if not outright impossible, most might say.
But not when one goes back to the basis of all harmony, the basis of true relationship—man's already-established, permanent, and perfect relationship to his creator. This, Christian Science teaches, is the basis for bringing about harmonious human relationships: the recognition of man's full and complete relationship to God as image, idea, manifestation, child, cherished son.
Every Sunday in Christian Science churches throughout the world the first three verses of I John, third chapter, are read, including the statement "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." What wonderful benefits this sonship bestows! It gives man full access by reflection to the unlimited intelligence of the Mind that is God. As we come to know and reflect this Mind, each of us can act wisely and perceptively toward others—knowing when to speak up and when to pray quietly; when to forgive and forget and when to seek changes in attitudes and behavior; when to hold on in a situation and when to let loose.
Likewise, man has full access by reflection to the substance of the Spirit that is God, to the strength of the Principle that is God, to the goodness of the Love that is God, and to all the other divine qualities and their inherent blessings and benefits. Created in His likeness, man is, like God, incorporeal; like God, perfect. As the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, states, "When we fully understand our relation to the Divine, we can have no other Mind but His—no other Love, wisdom, or Truth, no other sense of Life, and no consciousness of the existence of matter or error." Science and Health, pp. 205-206. The Master, Christ Jesus, was so fully conscious of his relationship to God that he was able to meet the needs of his fellowman in healing ways. Sinners were reformed, the deformed made whole, the blind brought out of their darkness, the sick restored to health, the dead raised to life. Nor did his ministry preclude his giving spiritual attention to human relationships. He was a loving son, to the end considerate of his mother's welfare. He was a tireless shepherd to his little flock of disciples—patient with their mistakes, forgiving of their doubts, quieting their fears. His love went out impartially to everyone, and he set the standard for the rest of us in these words from his Sermon on the Mount: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven . ... Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matt. 5:43-45, 48.
Life and Life's idea are inseparable. And
when the human expresses in some degree
the divine, the human condition is improved,
rectified, elevated, harmonized.
This may seem an unattainable standard for those currently struggling to heal and uplift some challenging relationship, but when the Christ, Truth, is brought to bear on any situation, there is always healing. I recall the time when my husband and I used to anticipate with dread the unsolicited visits of a relative who, despite our objections, smoked incessantly, criticized our religion and life style, ridiculed our friends, and generally made life miserable during the entire extent of his stay. Both my husband and I had been taught to honor our parents, respect our elders, and be gracious to guests, but so far as this relative was concerned, we were beginning to feel like abused children! One day when my husband returned from his office, I met him at the door. One look at my face and the letter in my hand told him everything.
"He's coming again?" I nodded, miserably. We had scarcely recovered from the smoke and turmoil of the previous visit. Suddenly my husband rebelled. Referring to the name used in Christian Science to designate impersonal evil, he declared aloud, "Animal magnetism, you leave our relative alone! He's actually the son of God, as we all are—loved, loving, lovable." We realized that no evil could dominate or influence any of God's children.
We both spent much time in prayer before that visit, and it was unlike any other visit from this relative. (Perhaps he had prayed too!) He didn't smoke. There was no criticism or ridicule expressed. He was pleasant, appreciative, loving—an altogether genial guest. We were sorry when his visit came to an end. And even sorrier that it had taken us so many years to do our part in seeing this relative in his true relationship to God.
With spiritual perception Mrs. Eddy declares: "God is our Father and our Mother, our Minister and the great Physician: He is man's only real relative on earth and in heaven. David sang, 'Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.'" Miscellaneous Writings, p. 151. Acknowledging God as our "only real relative" harmonizes relationships, for who could fail to get along with all-harmonious divine Love?
Humanly speaking, relationships change. They seem to come and go and may appear not only unpredictable but sometimes undesirable and even destructive. But this is the counterfeit of true relationship, which reflects the spiritual and real. Man's divine relationship to God is constant, invariable, indestructible, and eternal, for God is Life. Life and Life's idea are inseparable in their harmonious at-one-ment. And when the human expresses in some degree the divine, the human condition is improved, rectified, elevated, harmonized.
In truth we are all children of the one Father. Our one divine Parent is eternally maintaining His universe, wherein good is perpetually enthroned. And His beloved idea, man, forever liberated from the lie of mortality, is maintained in heaven, harmony, in all of his original and eternal perfection.
The revelation of Christian Science makes this clear. In the words of Science and Health, "The relations of God and man, divine Principle and idea, are indestructible in Science; and Science knows no lapse from nor return to harmony, but holds the divine order or spiritual law, in which God and all that He creates are perfect and eternal, to have remained unchanged in its eternal history." Science and Health, pp. 470-471.
What an absolutely perfect relationship!
