Achievable peace

Dear Reader:

To you, what's implied in the title "Achievable peace"? Is it saying to you that worldwide, permanent peace is probably not achievable, so the article will deal with the peace that is achievable? That isn't what's intended. We'll reason together about the worldwide, permanent peace that is achievable, is universally attainable. Now, you may raise the question "Is it realistic to expect world peace as a practical fact?" Indeed it is!

Is peace to be achieved through international peace conferences? Or by sitting in on worldwide disarmament talks? Or heaps and heaps of world opinions? Certainly we can be grateful for all the efforts being made in these directions. But we need to go further and recognize the vital importance of letting the Christ enter our daily lives. In so doing, we're not apt to fall for mortal mind's plea "What can I do? I'm just poor li'l ol' me. I don't count."

Never was there a bigger lie! You do count! Mrs. Eddy asks, "Is not a man metaphysically and mathematically number one, a unit, and therefore whole number, governed and protected by his divine Principle, God?" How clearly, with her next two sentences, she defines duty and result: "You have simply to preserve a scientific, positive sense of unity with your divine source, and daily demonstrate this. Then you will find that one is as important a factor as duodecillions in being and doing right, and thus demonstrating deific Principle."^{Pulpit and Press, p. 4.}

You are that "one," and so am I, and so is every other child of God. Each of us is actually the conscious and complete expression of the infinite "One." So isn't any goal, including worldwide permanent peace, achieved individually in consciousness? Doesn't peace begin, and isn't it sustained, in consciousness? And what is the nature of this peace? Isn't it an untroubled heart? As Christ Jesus said: "My peace I give unto you .... Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."^{John 14:27.}

As we look within our own individual lives to accept more of the Master's gift, we can be grateful that we have Scripture, the Word of God, to inspire, instruct, and guide us, and with it the spiritual interpretation of the Word, as revealed to Mary Baker Eddy. In this Word we find Christ, God's idea. Mrs. Eddy writes: "This spiritual idea, or Christ, entered into the minutiae of the life of the personal Jesus. It made him an honest man, a good carpenter, and a good man, before it could make him the glorified."^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 166.}

Aren't we encouraged, then, to allow this spiritual idea, or Christ, to enter into the minutiae of our daily lives? Allow? Sure, but how? Sit and wait for it to enter? No. Some of Mrs. Eddy's clearly stated instructions include: "Pray without ceasing. Watch diligently; never desert the post of spiritual observation and self-examination."^{Ibid., p. 154.}

Self-examination! No doubt you do lots of that. But stay alert; self-examination is not self-condemnation. Examine? Yes! Depreciate? No! Be sure to stick to your post of spiritual observation while you're examining self. For each of us the big question is "How willing am I to make mental changes in the minutiae of daily living and to work to see these changes made manifest?"

Don't be surprised if your efforts to attain peace of mind and heart seem to be resisted even till a state of open warfare is precipitated—warfare with what mortal mind would have you believe are your own characteristics: willfulness, callousness, procrastination, lust, false appetites. But don't let this inner warring get you down.

These are Mrs. Eddy's words in Miscellaneous Writings: "Be of good cheer; the warfare with one's self is grand; it gives one plenty of employment, and the divine Principle worketh with you,—and obedience crowns persistent effort with everlasting victory."^{Ibid, p. 118.}

Isn't this warfare with oneself indispensable to peace of mind and of heart? And isn't this warfare the only way for peace eventually to be achieved worldwide and permanently for all mankind?

So what are we waiting for? Why kid ourselves? Perhaps we have some "un-peaceful" thoughts about our mate, our children, our neighbors, business associates, even fellow church members. But we don't have to accept these thoughts. Peace can be achieved for all concerned more easily than you'd expect—that is, if you really want peace regardless of who's to blame. This kind of peacemaking is not false or passive like that described by Jeremiah when he says of false priests and prophets, "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace."^{Jer. 6:14.} True peacemaking is based on divine Principle, which calls for a deep trust and willingness to let God correct and govern, and which brings complete and permanent healing.

It's an undisputed fact that peace for mankind is an extension of peace in the home, genuine peace in business, church, government. Granted the following words from a needlepoint sampler aren't deeply metaphysical, they state the truth simply, yet profoundly:

In the beatitude "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God,"^{Matt. 5:9.} note that it specifies peacemakers, not peace lovers. I venture to say most everybody is a peace lover. But being a peacemaker takes some doing and may even at times appear to cause wars!

In many of our churches and homes, peace does seem to prevail. But one wonders how often it seems to prevail because people want to be peace lovers and not peacemakers! After all, it's easier to maintain the status quo. As the saying goes, "Don't rock the boat." Then you won't encounter storms. Although the rocking of the boat, so to say, that comes of Christian Science practice may bring a stir, it always brings a higher peace.

So I ask myself: "Is there peace of mind and heart between me and every member of my church? If not, why not?" In answering, I find such questions as these need handling: Are my grievances serious or only fluff? Do I feel responsible for straightening out the other guy?—that is, getting rid of the "speck of sawdust" in his eye but doing nothing about the "great plank" in my own?^{Matt. 7:3 (The New English Bible).} Do self-righteousness and self-justification try to take over?

We read about Jesus' washing his disciples' feet, which connotes great humility on his part. Am I willing to do the same for my family and fellow church members? Or do I have to prove that I am the greatest? Can I take a personal sense of self out of the picture and with all my heart trust needed healing to God, knowing that God governs all?

The healing art of Science brings to light peace on earth as nothing else can. During all their years, The Christian Science Journal, the Sentinel, and the Herald have continuously published verified healings submitted by Christian Scientists for all mankind to see. We are grateful.

But judging by my own experience, I wonder how many thousands and thousands more healings than those have not been shared? Not shared in writing, at Wednesday evening meetings, or even over the back fence. What a shame! Every healing of any kind, published or unpublished, connotes a change of thought about something and gives mankind added evidence of glorifying God. Isn't this another way of saying that peace of mind and heart is achievable through healing?

Blessed is the man who makes peace in his own heart and in his own soul. Happy is the man in whom the inner warfare is diminished and finally destroyed.

Peace is achievable individually, heart by heart. The Bible says it this way: "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."^{Phil. 4:7.} The Bible is replete with assurances that God is the God of peace. He is the only God —and infinite. Therefore peace is infinite. So in reality this God-bestowed peace has never been unachievable. And in the sight of God, never unachieved. It exists universally, peacefully—in the kingdom of God within, for each of us to allow... admit... let... accept... acknowledge... and demonstrate.