Article November 26, 1910 Issue

"THE GREATEST ... IS LOVE."

DAISY BEDFORD.

There is something in the word love which fills the despairing with hope, comforts the mourner, binds up the broken-hearted, and eases the chafing of the prisoner's chains, unclasping them ere long. Much had been said and written about love, but it needed the inspired teachings of our Master as to its right application to the needs of poor humanity; and later, owing to the lack of understanding of these teachings, our Leader's spiritual guidance to show us once again that in the desert of human beliefs, human opinions, still could be found the springs of water,—the true idea of love,—welling up to quench the thirst of those who sought for the source of immortal life in order that they might never experience that thirst again. Faithfully and lovingly has Mrs. Eddy pointed out in her teachings that what mortals designate as love is often akin to hate, malice, lust, masquerading in the name of that which expresses "the nature, essence, and wholeness of Deity" (Science and Health, p. 465), and under this guise sin and suffering have stalked unashamed throughout our land.

As Truth gradually uncovers to each one "the self-inflicted wounds of selfishness" (Ibid., p. 462), we are overwhelmed to find that what we had always thought we possessed, namely, a pure love for our fellow-men, contains no element of that which is the foundation stone of all true love—selflessness—seeking not to get, but to give; seeking not our own, but another's good. Such, then, is the ideal upon which to base the early strivings for a purer concept of what love is; which later should prove through constant, earnest desire for good the truth of Isaiah's words, "A man shall be as an hiding place from the wind ... as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." Then gradually dawns on the awakening thought some faint glimpse of the meaning of omnipresent Love—the hush of complete understanding, the stillness which is needed—because what is the world seeking now, as it beats itself like some restless torrent against its barriers, conscious of its limitations, yet ignorant of the way in which they may be overcome? Only divine Love can still the raging storm, the fierce demand for justice (and perfect love means perfect justice)—perfect understanding.

Omnipresent Love, which is God, cannot be conscious of any unlikeness to itself, because, being omnipresent, there is no place where evil or injustice can be found; therefore this knowledge removes the seeming barriers to man's perfection, and as an idea of God, reflecting all good, there is for him no consciousness of evil. This thought stills all material reasoning and removes the burden of a belief in minds many, a burden which has so often seemed too heavy to be borne. Our Leader bids us "wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept" (Ibid., p. 454). What a gloriously descriptive word-painting of that brooding Love which encircles each and every one of its ideas, that not even a sparrow falleth without its knowledge. Who does not in some measure realize this on some quiet, restful day, spent "far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife"? Nature is clothed anew with early summer tints, the sun, softly shining through the morning mist, gives promise of the strong light which will soon appear, and over the sheltered pool edged with rushes the lilies in their starry beauty crown the waters. The may-flies flit noiselessly here and there, a brilliant flash of color; the birds are silent, a deep hush pervades—one stands alone, in a sweet silence save for the lowing of cattle in the distance, the sudden splash of a trout in the clear pool, the almost soundless bending of the grasses as a gentle zephyr caresses them, each blade tremulous with dew. Hearing in the solitude the voice of God, who is Love, our hearts go out in gratitude to Him "who giveth us richly all things to enjoy."

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