A young family, quite new to my country and to the activity of roller-skating, was trying for the first time to learn to skate. It was one fall after another, accompanied by much laughter—laughter that eventually gave way to frustration. I finally asked the young man trying the hardest if I could help.
Gratefully accepting, he quickly discovered that he could not fall because of our double wristlock. This lessened his fear. Learning to look up, not down, to move smoothly first one foot, then the other, he soon was able to trust the support of my grip, exclaiming excitedly, "I'm getting the feel of it!"
In a short time the fledgling skater was moving freely and joyously, as my wife and I proceeded to teach the others. He had reached the breakthrough point where he could stand on his own two feet and then respond by encouraging his siblings to do likewise.
Learning to understand and practice Christian Science has some similarities to the experience of my young student. When thought has been accustomed to acceptance of a physical and finite universe, the concept of spiritual existence may seem as foreign and difficult to demonstrate as roller-skating was to this family. If, however, we nourish the desire to make this very practical teaching our own, the Christ, the true, spiritual idea of God, is always available to guide us toward that breakthrough where proof cements conviction.
After deep study of the Bible, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer of Christian Science, found that Jesus' healing works are a practical possibility today, just as he promised. Opening her thought to divine inspiration, Mrs. Eddy was able to practice spiritual healing, proving for herself and the world the validity of scientific Christianity. One of her pupils, Emma Easton Newman, wrote, "She was a remarkably good listerner, but above all one realized that she listened to God; that she walked with her hand in God's hand." We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, p. 96 .
We too can walk with our hand in God's hand. How? One way is to search out for ourselves the underlying spiritual import of the Bible. For instance, Psalm 23 refers to walking "through the valley of the shadow of death" Ps. 23:4. (emphasis added). To me this valley represents the darkness we sense when we look for hope in material existence, and help through material means. As the Psalmist implies, we need not fear this darkness. Turning wholeheartedly to God, Spirit, we can come out of the shadows and gain dominion over the belief that we live in a vulnerable and limited state of existence.
Throughout the New Testament you can find examples of overcoming obstacles by relying on the power of God. Christ Jesus, who never surrendered to a sense of materialism and futility, healed the sick and raised the dead by turning to the Father. He knew that demonstration of man's unity with God provides the means of breaking through mortal impasses. He asserted, "The Son can do nothing of himself." John 5:19. To follow his example, we open our hearts and listen, really listen, for what God communicates concerning man made in His spiritual image and likeness. This man is not a mortal being who is hemmed in by material obstacles but is divine Spirit's expression. This is a very different way of thinking of ourselves, but it is Jesus' way. And our listening for this communication of Christ is perhaps the most essential ingredient of prayer.
If such praying seems difficult at first, a study of the chapter "Prayer," in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy, opens a fresh, new approach to the subject. It explains that prayer is more a receptivity to and affirmation of Christ's, or Truth's, unfolding than a pleading for divine intervention in human affairs.
Have you ever been faced with situations where you exclaim, "I don't know where to turn" or "I can't see my way out of this one"? There's always an answer in the Father's plan. He does not allow us to "paint ourselves into a corner." Our task is to look up, not down, away from limited sense and the acceptance of physical and mental roadblocks. The strong support of divine Principle and infinite Love, God's power and tenderness, upholds our efforts. Through repeated study and practice, we reach that spiritual breakthrough point where we too can exclaim, "I'm getting the feel of it."
A physical or mental impasse is impenetrable only to what Christian Science calls mortal mind, never to that God-given consciousness which naturally discerns man's unlimited, spiritual nature. Like the new skater, we are no longer intimidated as we realize our fears were unfounded. Proving this in small ways builds confidence, and we are less inclined to give credence to the appearance of things which says, "There simply is no way out." Gradually, we see that the so-called "big" problems have no more reality in God's eyes than do less severe challenges.
Thinking from a material basis develops its own impression of insuperable barriers. It's responsible for its own impasses. Fear, greed, anger, apathy, enlarge upon themselves and build up apparent barriers. They have no real substance, no foundation in divine reality. In the face of a spiritually-minded man's responsiveness to Christ, or Truth, and his persistent effort, they give way.
Jesus walked through threatening crowds, raised the dead, healing the most intransigent disease and purifying sin-filled thought. When the disciples asked Jesus why they were not able to heal the epileptic son, he answered, "Because of your unbelief." He also added, "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Matt. 17:20, 21. His Sermon on the Mount teaches us how to pray and how to fast. We can learn from it how to keep the doorway of our heart open to the Father's continuous counsel and support. This is a step toward the kind of prayer which Jesus required. Also, we see how to let to of long-held, matter-oriented concepts and false trusts in the physical senses. (This shows us the meaning of the "fasting" which Jesus said was necessary.)
A number of times in my business career, I came face to face with situations that defied logical solution. Over the years I learned to withdraw from focusing on the problem and turn instead to God, seeing and acknowledging Him as the only Mind, always present, always expressing in man His unlimited intelligence. This gave me a sense of walking with my hand in His. It abated useless worry, strengthened confidence, and frequently led to unforeseen practical solutions.
Once I sat across the table in a business meeting from two young contractors who had successfully completed their first project. A party to the contract was refusing to pay them for a large balance due. They said they had tried everything short of the courts (reasoning that attorney fees would have consumed most of their profits). I left the room for a moment to affirm the oneness of Mind, to affirm that Mind includes and governs all of creation, and to know that God was present to hold all of our hands. Upon returning, I asked the contractors to call the nonperforming party again and ask for a settlement. They reluctantly agreed. Again I left the room and prayed. When I returned, the two were all smiles, stating that they had settled the dispute.
Too often we tend to be like these businessmen. We stop short of the mark. We entertain the thought of failure instead of realizing that the only permanent answer, the only solution which will increase our spiritual "sinew," is that of enlarging our trust in God.
Rewarding breakthroughs in our study and practice of Christian Science follow as the natural outcome of our persistence in overcoming impasses. Then we feel the spiritual impulsion to love and to heal others.
Reaching this landmark, thought turns outward instead of inward, the heart fairly bursts with gratitude and receptivity to divine Love's continuous flow of inspiration, and we open our arms toward others bound by a sense of hopelessness. Here is where the spirit of Truth washes away the obstructions of limited, indwelling mortal thought, and healing flows. Then spiritual joy surmounts fear. A newborn sense of freedom whispers, "Thank you, Father."
