LOVE UNDERSTOOD

ETHEL M. LOVE.

As the understanding of divine Love unfolds itself in the purified consciousness, it becomes apparent that the love of personality must cease and the contracted human affections give place to all-inclusive devotion. "The bliss of loving unselfishly" (Science and Health, p. 262) can never be won while mortal sense or self is allowed to assert itself, but it can never hinder the irradiance of Love from falling upon its lawful object, man made in God's own likeness. Mortal sense is constantly reaching out for sympathy, and it would divert, if it could, the course of divine affection, bestowed on the manifestation of good alone. It clamors for recognition, and would monopolize every thought. Its so-called affections are crafty hypocrisies, deceiving and self-deceived, thrust out for what they can gain. By every subtle art it would hypnotize and seduce the unwary.

Our affection needs very careful and searching analysis in order to find out if it is a reflection of the divine essence, pure, invigorating, and unselfish, or the counterfeit, which all the time is seeking some return. Are we manifesting the generous devotion that joyfully witnesses the popularity of others, or the self-love that watches with greedy eyes and unworthy pangs when favor is elsewhere bestowed? Our suffering sense may claim to have been hurt and slighted, but what is it that has been hurt? Not the true idea of man, which is "hid with Christ in God," where suffering is not. The suffering sense must necessarily be a false sense, for whatever has real being is harmonious, reflecting Love only. It therefore follows that both that which suffers and that which would inflict suffering are without entity. Selfish suffering never accompanies a true sense of love. If our affections ever occasion us any other feeling than joy, they are not genuine and should be replaced by that which is true.

The Scientist knows that he neither gains nor loses by the acquisition or loss of personal devotion. He knows that Love envelops man's true being; he has all of good that he can realize, and infinitely more, and he knows he can never be deprived of Love nor robbed by human changefulness. He knows the deceptive nature of sense testimony; that behind the seeming hatred, indifference, and changefulness manifested by mortals, the divine Love glows steadily upon all, and is manifested by all God's little ones towards each other, and his constant prayer is that this may be fully realized by one and all. It is patent to him that the joy which cannot be taken from him has its source not merely in his own but in his brother's well-being.

Our beloved Leader teaches us that "Love is impartial and universal in its adaptations and bestowals" (Science and Health, p. 13), and in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 290) she declares, "To suppose that human love, guided by the divine Principle, which is Love, is partial, unmerciful, or unjust, indicates misapprehension of the divine Principle and its workings in the human heart," and she adds, "My affections involuntarily flow out towards all." To express love like this is the lofty ideal which every sincere Scientist is striving to attain, and in order to reach it mortal sense and self must be denied persistently.

If we would have the love of God "shed abroad in our hearts," as Paul says, we must neither personalize nor monopolize, for both these manifestations of erring thought are "partial, unmerciful, and unjust," and are apt to have within themselves the seeds of great suffering. When the bright, warm sunlight of divine tenderness shines out from behind the clouds of personality, it is irresistible. It attracts because it reflects the divine Mother-love, shed impartially and abundantly upon all; because it is unchangeable and steadfast; because it seeketh not its own but another's good.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit