Article October 17, 1936 Issue

Loving in Deed

CLAIRE CHANCELLOR SPRIGGS

Merely to desire that one may become more loving, more thoughtful, and more kind is not enough. The Christian Scientist must learn to love so unselfishly and completely that not one slightest thought may hinder him from finding God; that he may be a blessing wherever he may go by actually reflecting perfect Love—God Himself. If one is striving to apprehend what Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, terms "the living beauty of Love" (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 88), a seeming lack of courtesy, friendliness, responsiveness, or compassion on the part of another might attempt to hinder one in the search for true comfort and tender helpfulness. There is a great difference between merely desiring to love and expressing love, for the active acceptance of the teachings of Christ Jesus and of Christian Science involves not only hearing, but doing the Word.

On page 124 of "Miscellaneous Writings" our Leader portrays the loving Father-Mother God as ceaselessly active; that is, "comforting such as mourn, opening the prison doors to the captive, marking the unwinged bird, pitying with more than a father's pity; healing the sick,cleansing the leper, raising the dead, saving sinners." In this passage our Leader draws a tender picture of the same love which the master Christian lived and taught by the shores of the Galilean sea and on the hillsides of Judea. He taught his disciples how to love as the Father loved, and through simple parables he revealed to them a workable knowledge of his Father and of true sonship. Christ Jesus knew, as Mrs. Eddy also knew, that the only way to find God, who is Love, is by actively loving, by humbly serving one's fellow men. Active loving is expressing and reflecting Love. In this sense there is no element of hate, envy, jealousy, or destruction, for Love is kind. Love is not self-righteous, nor is it coldly aloof or indifferent. Love serves and gives. This is the true sense of love, which forever attracts, and cannot hinder the growth of another.

One student of Christian Science who longed to express more love and gentleness in her own life turned in earnest prayer to God for an uncovering of any secret errors that might be hindering this expression. Rigid self-examination brought to light a surprising sense of selfishness that tried to discourage her—sensitiveness, love of applause, false ambition, criticism, envy, and jealousy. After the discovery was made, however, she went diligently to work to eradicate these errors in her thinking, and one by one these unlovely traits were seen as impostors, and their unreality proclaimed. She had learned in Christian Science that these falsities do not belong to God, and because of this they could not belong to her, for man is God's image and likeness. She declared earnestly that the qualities with which she was in reality bountifully blessed were unselfishness, kindness, gratitude, love of her fellows and joy in their progress. She also came to see that as divine Love is impartial in its bestowals, a sense of envy or jealousy of another is a ridiculous belief of limitation and restriction, very harmful to the one indulging this false sense. Consequently, she became more tolerant, more kind, and therefore more active in unselfed love. This beautiful lesson turned her gratefully to divine Love in humble acknowledgment of her answered prayer.

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