Article April 18, 1942 Issue

The True Meaning of Wilderness

CAROL BOOTH SIMON

The Bible tells us that man was made in the image and likeness of God, his perfect creator. Christian Science reveals man as a spiritual idea in divine Mind, never confined by limitations of matter. This wholly good and perfect idea, man, exists at the standpoint of perfection now. He is cognizant of the great facts of being, and spontaneously reflects infinite wisdom, power, and intelligence from his Father, God. This being true, it follows that he is never involved in suffering, loss, lack, or adrift in a wilderness of doubt and confusion.

In the human experience, however, there may be a sense of fear, discouragement, loneliness, and pain, when men seem to be wandering in a dark wilderness without light or hope. They may be tempted to dwell on the darkness of these so-called wilderness experiences. Mary Baker Eddy, in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," has given this definition of "wilderness" (p. 597): "Loneliness; doubt; darkness. Spontaneity of thought and idea; the vestibule in which a material sense of things disappears, and spiritual sense unfolds the great facts of existence." The Christian Scientist can gain much by a study of this definition, for it helps him to see that right where there seems to be loneliness, doubt, and darkness in one's consciousness and experience, there actually the material sense of things is disappearing, and he can behold the Christ, or universal Truth. Thus, through Science, he can claim and demonstrate the inspiration, the blessing, the peace and spontaneity which are already his, in reality, and which spiritual sense is bringing to light.

Perfect health, strength, happiness, and prosperity are natural to man, the reflection of God. Inharmony of any kind is but a lie about God's harmonious, perfect man, a false claim that evil has power or presence. Let us then realize man's inseparable oneness with divine Love, and we shall find that the wilderness of fear has disappeared. The spiritual "facts of existence" alone are really present, and the understanding of this brings the evidence of harmony into our daily lives.

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