Article May 30, 1914 Issue

Peace that Passeth Understanding

WILLIS F. GROSS

Mankind steadfastly cling to what they believe to good, and never willingly submit to evil or the results of evil. If in his blindness one clings to evil, it is because he believes there is good in it. If he submits to evil, it is because he knows of no way of escape. A discordant condition is never desirable, and no one is content to abide therein. It is true that the effort made to get rid of discord, many times only results in greater confusion; but this is because mortal man has a false sense of existing conditions and is ignorant of real causation. Nevertheless, his desire to escape is sincere, and doubtless he would do better in a majority of cases if he only knew how.

The desire for peace and harmony is well-nigh universal. If there appear to be those who find satisfaction in strife and contention, this is but a flickering sense, and by no means an abiding consciousness. We believe it can be truthfully said that all men wish to be at peace. The desire is not always strong enough to inspire the effort that is necessary to achieve success, but it shows that the human heart turns naturally to good. If mortal man seems to be more prone to evil than to good, doubtless it is because no effort is required to drift into evil, while, from the human point of view, a great effort is required to pull against the current of erroneous belief and gain the consciousness of good.

The great Teacher said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." In Science and Health (p. 390) Mrs. Eddy writes, "It is our ignorance of God, the divine Principle, which produces apparent discord, and the right understanding of Him restores harmony." We thus learn from this word of Scriptures, as interpreted in Christian Science, that to know God and obey His law is the only way out of discord, the only way to lasting peace and enduring harmony.

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