Article October 28, 1905 Issue

An Allegory

Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.—Luke, 17: 21.

G. C. C.

An uninteresting looking pebble was placed in a bag with a number of others of the same kind, differing only in shape and size. This pebble was comfortably satisfied with himself, because he felt that he was quite as good as his neighbors, until one day, when he was removed from the bag and saw near at hand the most beautiful stone he had ever seen, clear and transparent, reflecting the most exquisite hues. It was then that he became much dissatisfied, and a strong desire took possession of him to become like the beautiful stone, which he afterwards learned was a diamond. With this desire constantly in view, he prayed night and morning, believing that God could bring about the transformation; but when at the end of a year he could perceive no change, he stopped praying, having lost faith in his petitions. He was in this faithless, dissatisfied condition, when, on a never-to-be-forgotten morning, he was again taken from the bag, closely examined, and he heard a voice say, "I think this is a stone of rare promise." The pebble could not believe that the remark applied to him, and looked about to see who the voice referred to. He then noticed that he was within speaking distance of a number of the same beautiful diamonds he so longed to be like. Seeing his look of inquiry, one of the diamonds said, "It is you that was meant; you are a diamond, like myself, only in the rough." On hearing this the pebble became wild with joy, confidently expecting to experience an immediate change, thinking that the transformation would be effected in some extraordinary, miraculous manner, without discomfort or effort on his part. But the diamond explained that it was a work of time, that he would have to be cleansed of the accumulated dirt, have the rough edges cut off, and be polished with great care. If he would be patient, however, and steadfast under the seemingly uncomfortable but necessary process, his true self would be brought to view and he would reflect the glorious light with the same beauty and color. "You may get discouraged," the diamond told him, "and find yourself tempted to think you were more comfortable as a pebble; you may sigh for a shorter and less dis-eased method of eliminating the false; but you must remember that the penalty for entertaining an untrue condition is the pain caused us in getting rid of this condition."

These kindly, helpful words encouraged the pebble to resolutely and unreservedly follow in the way pointed out, and the results were just as the diamond had said. Then how ashamed the pebble felt to think he had beseeched God to give him something that was already his, and had accused this loving Father of being unable or unwilling to help him, simply because in his own ignorance and blindness he had failed to recognize this fact. He was thus taught the great truth that "Discomfort under error is preferable to comfort" (Science and Health, p, 101), and that his prayer should have been to gain the understanding that as God's children we always have possessed every good thing, and the ability to make it manifest, for is not God's work finished, as the Bible tells us?

"All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye have received them, and ye shall have them." (Revised Version.)

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