Editorial February 13, 1937 Issue

"The anchor of hope"

George Shaw Cook

Many who have passed that more or less indefinite period known as middle age are apt to look on the future with uncertainty. They are likely to wonder how many more years they will have in which to continue the work they are engaged in, and how much strength, ability, and courage they will have with which to carry on. With some persons the inclination is mentally to measure their present supply of strength and endurance against the probable future encroachment of disease and decrepitude, wondering if their vitality and vigor will be equal to the tasks before them. Such tendencies may even hamper students of Christian Science in their demonstration of longevity. They may forget, at times, that Mary Baker Eddy has said in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 246), "Except for the error of measuring and limiting all that is good and beautiful, man would enjoy more than threescore years and ten and still maintain his vigor, freshness, and promise."

Longevity accompanied by useful activity is certainly to be desired. Therefore, those who are wise will be looking forward hopefully and expectantly to added years of service. They will not only hope for, but joyously look forward to continuance in the preparatory school of human experience until they attain the full reward of righteous endeavor.

In breaking down the limitations that seem often to accompany advancing years, Christian Scientists are greatly helped by the arresting declaration made by Mrs. Eddy on pages 40 and 41 of Science and Health, "The anchor of hope must be cast beyond the veil of matter into the Shekinah into which Jesus has passed before us; and this advance beyond matter must come through the joys and triumphs of the righteous as well as through their sorrows and afflictions." "Shekinah" is defined by Webster, in part, as follows: "The Divine Manifestation, through which God's presence is felt by man." As referred to by Mrs. Eddy in the passage quoted above, we may think of Shekinah as "the secret place of the most High," the spiritual consciousness of reality, which includes no belief of sin, disease, decrepitude, or death. And it will be recalled that Jesus reached this heavenly state, not through the door of death but through resurrection and ascension. He did not acquiesce in the generally accepted human belief that death is the vestibule of immortality.

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