Nurturing the world

IN A WORLD that is struggling against terrorism, poverty, sickness, instability, and a host of other problems, the importance of women's rights is not always obvious to some. "Isn't this something that could wait until later?" is a question, and one that is easy to understand. Actually, there isn't a "later." The problems afflicting the world are demanding attention now, and the nurturing qualities of womanhood—tenderness, collaboration, patience, and fortitude, to mention a few—are sorely needed.

Humanity's needs haven't changed much since Mary Baker Eddy became a major religious figure on the American, and later the world, landscape in the 19th century. And her discovery of Christian Science was, and continues to be, a direct response to a spiritual demand for solutions to these problems.

A visionary, as well as a woman who dealt with the practical realities of metaphysical healing, Mrs. Eddy understood the necessity of drawing on the qualities of both manhood and womanhood in her life and work. Recognizing the very limited role that women were allowed to play in government, society, science. theology, and medicine, she declared that the time for change had come: "This is woman's hour, in all the good tendencies, charities, and reforms of to-day." ^{Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, p. 245.}

"All the good tendencies." Mary Baker Eddy understood good to be a synonym for God and that therefore "good tendencies" were empowered by God, whom she knew as both Father and Mother—the ultimate nurturer. Those "good tendencies" are even more vital today. Tendencies toward compassion, toward unity, toward peace. These and other such qualities deserve to be nurtured until they grow into great trees that will provide shelter and comfort for those in need. And nurturing is one of the things that women have historically been known for doing.

Even so, some may still say, "Nurturing is something to do in the future, when things are better." But delay is not the standard set for humanity by the master Christian, whose example Mary Baker Eddy followed. Jesus once said, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." ^{John 9:4.}

A few years ago, that passage gave me fresh insight and took on more urgency for me. Reading it in a new way, I was first filled with dismay. I asked myself (and God): "If that night comes when 'no man can work,' how will humanity survive?" The divine answer came quickly and forcefully: "But woman can work!"

In a flash I saw Mary Baker Eddy's discovery of Christian Science in a totally different light, saw the power of this time in history as truly "woman's hour," when the Science of the Christ as she articulated it in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures would transform society. It would uplift "good tendencies" and open the way to better lives for all people—men, women, children. Everyone.

MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE before the world is nurtured as it needs to be. Some societies are still reluctant or unwilling to accept the value of womanhood. Yet, those who undervalue or abuse women are actually rejecting aspects of themselves that could hold the answers to their deepest problems. Perhaps they still view womanhood as meaning helplessness, ignorance, cowardice. This mistaken view of women has never actually been true, and it never will be. As I think of the ingenuity of my own mother, who for a time was a single mom, I can say with conviction that she never gave up even in the face of defeat, that she was continually willing to learn and try new things, and that she was brave much of the time.

Women are also sometimes thought of as tricksters who use "love" to manipulate others. That may be so in some cases, but this isn't the kind of womanhood whose hour we're considering here. Woman's hour is the hour of love that "cannot be a mere abstraction, or goodness without activity and power." ^{Mis., p. 250.} It is the love that carries forward the "good tendencies," the purpose of divine Love, the ultimate nurturer.

Mary Baker Eddy spoke of love as, among other things, "the gentle hand opening the door that turns toward want and woe, sickness and sorrow, and thus lighting the dark places of earth." ^{Ibid., p. 250.} This love does not exclude men. On the contrary, it embraces their own "good tendencies"—their strength, courage, experience, and wisdom. Their willingness to light "the dark places of the earth," as seen in the example of people such as Nelson Mandela, who has nurtured a nation—as well as Shirin Ebadi, the woman who won last year's Nobel peace prize for her work on human rights in Iran.

AT THEIR BEST, all individuals combine the best of both the male and female qualities—the strength of tenderness, the courage of compassion, and love-inspired intelligence. These and other spiritual qualities are essential to individual progress and also to nurturing the world and its people. By nurturing these qualities each individual does his or her part in "lighting the dark places of earth."

Rosalie E. Dunbar, Managing Editor