One of the real joys of Christian Science is to engage in considering metaphysical concepts. Paul wrote to early Christians, "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Phil. 4:8.
Metaphysics means that which transcends, or is beyond, the physical. The wonder of it all is that by delving into and correctly applying metaphysical truths, we inevitably find our human circumstances improved. Of course, pondering and practicing divine metaphysics aren't solely for the purpose of bettering our immediate circumstances. They are important in working out our salvation. Thinking "on these things" naturally results in elevation of both thought and experience.
A particular joy for me has been to grasp more fully the concept of angels. The word angel is derived from the Greek word meaning "messenger." Through the years, I have been touched by articles in the Christian Science periodicals, and by testimonies both in the periodicals and in church, in which individuals have spoken of listening to God's angel messages and being healed. For a long time, though, I wasn't sure that I really comprehended what it means to receive such a message. I didn't feel I'd ever heard a divine message in the way these testifiers and writers had. They seemed to have had an experience that transcended anything I had ever felt.
So I decided to do something about it. I began a study of what the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy say about angels. Immediately I came across the spiritual definition of angels found in the Glossary of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. Part of the definition is, "God's thoughts passing to man." Science and Health, p. 581. This prompted me to expand my study to see what these books reveal about thoughts as well as angels. As a result, I grew to an understanding that has deeply changed me. That, in turn, has led to significant blessings for me, my family, and others.
The ideas God gives are wholly good, unlimited.
Actually, the whole process that led to this understanding started a long time ago. Let's rewind to a point early in my business career. My wife and I were just beginning the great adventure of parenthood. It was a time, too, when our little family was feeling financial pressure, and a second child was on the way.
I was working in a business environment that was anything but harmonious. Surrounding me were blatant instances of immorality and dishonesty. During this time, over a period of many months, I was studying particular passages from the Bible and from books by Mary Baker Eddy. My intention was to gain a better understanding of God's infinite supply of good for all His children. Each day, as I commuted to work, I would review these passages.
Among them was a brief section in Mrs. Eddy's book Miscellaneous Writings entitled "Angels." One sentence says, "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies." Mis., p. 307. Up until that time, I had supposed this to mean that some great business concept would come to me that would enrich both me and a client. But as I pondered the meaning one morning, I found myself concluding that God could not possibly give me a human concept. The ideas He would give would be wholly divine, wholly good, without any material limitation. So I asked myself, "What are the ideas that God gives?" The response came to thought, "Well, one of the ideas He gives you is the right idea of man." So I began to think of God's sons and daughters as they are spoken of on page 475 inScience and Health in answer to the question "What is man?" There he is described as perfect, spiritual, as having all good, which is derived from his Maker. He includes all right ideas!
How did that compare with the view I was entertaining of my co-workers? There was simply no agreement or coincidence. The mortal concept of those co-workers just vanished from my thought in the light of what I now saw was the true idea of man. Immediately the judgmental feelings of criticism, resentment, even hatred, disappeared. They were replaced by a truly appreciative feeling of love and respect for everyone in the office. I had begun to "think on" the things that Paul admonished us to consider.
When I arrived at the office, this sense of respect, admiration, and warmth continued, and it did so throughout the day. My relations with my co-workers changed in my heart. No longer was I entertaining anything but a true, Christly love for them.
Interestingly, within two weeks the whole business situation changed. I was moved into new surroundings and improved circumstances. My former associates were no longer part of my experience. Also, a large sum of money unexpectedly came to my wife and me that relieved the financial strains that had been weighing down on us. Within another three months my whole career had changed. I found myself moved forward into the work I had inwardly desired to pursue since I was a young teenager. I still find myself in awe each day of the joy of that career.
Immediately, the feelings of criticism, even hatred, disappeared.
Let's fast forward from that time to when our second child was old enough for her driver's license. Holding it proudly in her hand, she asked to use my car. After she told us where she would be going, I handed her a set of keys, and prayed to know that she was safely in God's care. I gained a compete feeling of peace.
Not an hour later the telephone rang. It was my daughter. She said, "Dad, I totaled your car, but I'm all right." I heard myself saying: "Honey, it's just development. I'll be right there to pick you up." Now, where did that seemingly ridiculous response come from? It turned out to be an angel message.
Let me explain. When I arrived at the police barracks where my daughter had been taken, I found her totally unharmed. The officer in charge told me that he could not understand how she had escaped unscathed. He said that my car had been towed to a nearby lot and that I would see the next day what a miracle had taken place. He was right!
I drove my daughter home feeling great gratitude for her safety. The next day, however, I was faced with the fact that I no longer had transportation for myself and my business. So I thought about that statement that had come out of my mouth—"It's just development." Over the next few days, I prayed, asking God to show me what I needed to know. "What," I asked, "needs to develop in my thought?"
Finally, I pondered the sentence from that passage on angels that I mentioned earlier—"God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies." What was the spiritual idea that God had already given me that would give me the daily supply? I thought: "God gives you the idea of mobility. It's a perfect idea. Intact, beautiful, present, abundant, unlimited." I found myself feeling great gratitude for the fact that this idea was already present and perfect within my consciousness. I saw that Christ Jesus had understood the right idea of mobility. As a result, when he joined his disciples on their boat, the boat was immediately at the shore for which they were heading. See John 6:21 . The thought came that this spiritual idea would embrace and govern my experience in a way that would bring improvement, less limitation. I could see that a development had taken place in my thought. In what might seem an almost miraculous way, I had a new and better car in the space of just a few days.
Let's fast forward again. It's about ten years later. Still, I'm pondering what thoughts are. And what, really, are angels? This was when the study I spoke of at the beginning of the article was in full swing. Well, you can guess my joy when I was reading a passage in the book Miscellaneous Writings by Mrs. Eddy and came across these words: "... thoughts are outlined, individualized ideas. ..." The entire statement reads, "In Science, form and individuality are never lost, thoughts are outlined, individualized ideas, which dwell forever in the divine Mind as tangible, true substance, because eternally conscious." Mis., p. 103.
To me, this meant that a thought, in the highest sense of that term, is some specific expression, or aspect, of an idea. It comes in a unique way and at an opportune instance. The spiritual idea of home, for instance, exists in divine Mind. It includes such qualities as warmth, affection, harmony, peace, light, joy. When we are faced with the need for a place to live, we can appreciate the presence of this idea as a present reality. We can live the qualities of home in our daily lives. As our consciousness is elevated by the awareness of the spiritual idea, our concept of home comes into coincidence with the divine. And we shouldn't be surprised when we receive the direction we need, the specific thought that leads to an improved place to live. We'll find ourselves experiencing God's care in an appropriate way.
And this is what an angel does! The Psalmist said of God, "He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Ps. 91:11. This is illustrated throughout the Bible.
Study of the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy has opened my thought to receive angel messages. I have come to discern what Mrs. Eddy meant when she wrote, "Of this also rest assured, that books and teaching are but a ladder let down from the heaven of Truth and Love, upon which angelic thoughts ascend and descend, bearing on their pinions of light the Christ-spirit." Retrospection and Introspection, p. 85.
I felt God's love move me. I was cured within days.
The right idea of man, which I found in Science and Health, has continued to develop in my thought and experience. And that idea of mobility, which every one of God's children includes and expresses, has done more than resolve a transportation issue for our family. For instance, not long ago I found my knees swollen. I was apparently afflicted with an arthritic condition. I saw that I needed to let myself be moved by Love, motivated by Love, actually mobilized by Love. Then I conformed my thoughts and actions to express more patient, appreciative regard for others. I felt God's love move me, and I was cured within days. This was a new aspect of the spiritual idea of mobility that appeared to consciousness. It was an angel.
Truly, angels are "God's thoughts passing to man." God gives us the angels that we need. They comfort. They guide. They harmonize. They inspire. They heal, because they reveal something more of God's beautiful, grand, magnificent spiritual creation.
