Editorial October 9, 1902 Issue

Which is It?

Human sympathy with its open-handed charity, its word of commiseration, its tearful pity, and its tender counselings of resignation, comes to the sufferer in such a guise as not to be easily recognized as the subtlest of enemies. It is so like love, and we all so love to be loved. But here as everywhere Christian Science bids us look deeper, face courageously everything that seems, bids us examine the state of consciousness that expresses itself in these manifestations of human sympathy.

Unquestioning generosity to the poor, while in some instances it may be expedient, is never the ultimate relief from indigence. The only true healing of poverty or wealth is the understanding of man's sole dependence upon God. This understanding of man's true source of supply destroys all fear of money, either of lack or excess, and sets man free. Commiseration admits the condition of misery. The tearful eye does not, cannot understand that "there is no pitiable condition." Some one has wisely said, "Eyes that see the light must be incapable of tears." And what is meant by the counseled resignation of sympathy? Resignation to sorrow and misery as from God, God who is Love, Life, Principle, Truth? Good knows no resignation to discord, knows no discord.

We thus see the whole fabric of human sympathy fall, because it is not builded upon the Rock, Truth. We turn as ever to the Master and find in him a divine compassion, tender, patient, liberating the sufferer by knowing the nothingness of that which would fetter him. In the midst of wailing sympathy at the house of Jairus, note the serenity of divine compassion that said: "Talitha cumi!" In Bethany human sorrow and sympathy said regretfully, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Divine compassion said: "Lazarus, come forth." "Loose him, and let him go."

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