Guidance

Annie M. Knott

There is a very beautiful passage in the twenty-fourth chapter of Genesis which tells how Abraham sent away from the land of Canaan a trusted servant to find a wife for his beloved son Isaac. When the servant expressed a doubt as to the outcome of his quest, Abraham responded: "The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way." These words take on a wonderful meaning in the light of Christian Science, where we are taught to look constantly for divine guidance and to know that angels, God's thoughts, are as truly with us today as they were with the ancient worthies. Here it should be said that Abraham's chief desire was to find a companion for his son who knew something about the God he himself worshiped,—the one Mind of whose guidance he was more and more certain as he advanced in spiritual understanding. It is also deeply interesting to see that the various members of his large household were all taught to look for this guidance in the least things as well as in the greatest, and that they expected a response to the uplifted desires which went out to divine Love and wisdom.

While from the human standpoint this whole story might be called a beautiful idyll, the spiritual lesson it conveys may well be deeply pondered by all students of Christian Science. Strange to say, they are often censured for doing the very thing that Abraham taught his servant to do, namely, to seek divine guidance and reverently acknowledge this before all who are willing to listen. Popular belief shows that humanity has to a large extent arrogated to itself the power to work out its own destiny, and would say that if certain things are done, certain results will necessarily follow, and that one need not call upon God for guidance when human reason may be trusted to do all that is required.

It is to offset this materialistic tendency that Christian Science calls upon humanity to turn again to God, not only with the faith of the old patriarchs but with the added understanding gained from the spiritual sense of our Master's teachings. Of old the wise man said: "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths;" but how many are there today who do this thing,—who seek divine guidance not only when they fail to find help elsewhere, but at all times and under all circumstances?

Christian Scientists usually first learn the tremendous value of divine guidance when they seek healing for some ailment which is pressing heavily upon them; and here too is an important consideration. If, as in the case of Abraham, they seek this guidance, they will undoubtedly be led to the one who is best prepared to help them. On page 443 of Science and Health we find wise counsel from our revered Leader with respect to those who do not quickly realize from Christian Science treatment the healing which they need. She clearly points to mental freedom as necessary in such cases; but she unmistakably directs thought away from materiality to unfailing spiritual means when on the following page she says, "If Christian Scientists ever fail to receive aid from other Scientists,—their brethren upon whom they may call,—God will still guide them into the right use of temporary and eternal means." The fact should not be overlooked that through the earnest study of the Bible and Science and Health divine guidance will be made increasingly apparent; and whether the urgent need be for health and strength, or for a home, employment, or anything which will enable them to prove the ever-presence of God's kingdom with its perfect and harmonious activities,—this good, all good, God has for them.

It should never be forgotten that the more we are conscious of divine guidance, the better prepared we are to take all the needed steps on the human plane, instead of waiting idly for something to happen before we can take the next step. The most important thing which can happen at any part of our journey is the clear, unclouded realization of the truth so beautifully expressed in the assurance given on page 566 of Science and Health, that as the children of Israel were led through the wilderness "so shall the spiritual idea guide all right desires in their passage from sense to Soul, from a material sense of existence to the spiritual, up to the glory prepared for them who love God."

Annie M. Knott.

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