"Love thy neighbor"

ETHEL M. MC CANDLESS

When Abram and Lot separated in the land of Canaan, after finding that they could no longer dwell together in peace and harmony, Abram's attitude was expressed in these words: "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren." On page 444 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy quotes these words, and adds, "Immortals, or God's children in divine Science, are one harmonious family; but mortals, or the 'children of men' in material sense, are discordant and ofttimes false brethren." The story in Genesis shows that Abram's faith and love were put to the test many times; and through the centuries the same problem has confronted all mankind, for human nature is the same today as it was when Abram and Lot tended their flocks and herds in the land of Canaan.

Now it is a comparatively easy matter to say to our brother, Let there be no strife between me and thee, but how to put it into practice is what this world needs to know. The Mosaic law with its "Thou shalt not" did not solve the problem, though it supplied a certain need at the time it was given; but gradually there unfolded to human consciousness a higher sense of love, until it burst forth and was manifested in the teachings and life of Christ Jesus. He gave to the world a new commandment in these words: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." It however remained for Mrs. Eddy, in Christian Science, to show us how to do this.

Before we can love our neighbor and live at peace with him, we must know who and what he is. We cannot obey the command "Love thy neighbor as thyself" so long as we believe that both self and the neighbor are material and mortal, capable of hating as well as loving. In order to find out the truth about ourselves, we must begin with God the Father, "of whom are all things," and as we learn more of the nature and attributes of the Father, our true selfhood will unfold; then we shall see not only ourselves aright, but also our brother.

A certain Christian Scientist had an experience along this line which may prove helpful to others. Soon after moving into a new home she discovered that she had a most disagreeable neighbor with troublesome, disobedient children. Instead of knowing the truth about the situation, she listened to the suggestions which thronged her consciousness, and was in a constant state of discord, alternating between disgust and despair. After trying for some time to solve the problem from a purely human standpoint and making no headway, there being no common ground on which they could meet, it came to her one day that this must be worked out scientifically. For a long time she had been declaring that in God she lived, moved, and had her being, and if this were true about herself, then it must be so about her neighbor. It would be impossible therefore for her to have an undesirable neighbor, for nothing of that nature could enter God's presence.

As she worked along this line, conditions began to improve; more harmony was manifested, and one day a sign "For Sale" appeared on the neighbor's house. This was very gratifying and a cause for much rejoicing, she thought, and she rested on her oars, so to speak. In a short time a buyer appeared, one who would have been a most desirable neighbor, and the outcome was anxiously awaited. Now while both parties were apparently ready, one to sell and the other to purchase, still the deal was not closed, and after a few days the sign was taken down. The Scientist saw that something was wrong and that there was yet work to be done. She was truly desirous of doing right, and very humbly did she petition the Father to show her the way. The light came almost immediately, and such a revealing! Away back in a dark corner of her consciousness she found lurking a desire to put her neighbor out of his home. She had all unconsciously outlined her demonstration.

Then as she waited, truly repentant, and humbly asked to be led aright, she recalled the story of the good Samaritan. She saw herself as the priest and the Levite, passing by "on the other side," drawing the robes of self-righteousness and bigotry about her. But as she worked and prayed, the tatters of pharisaism began to fall away, and, behold! the Samaritan appeared, bringing the oil of charity, and the wine which our Leader defines as "inspiration; understanding" (Science and Health, p. 598). Very tenderly and lovingly did she take this human concept, which had been beaten and robbed by the mortal beliefs of ignorance, envy, and hate, to the inn of spiritual consciousness, and there she left it with the host, our all-loving and merciful Father, who is "no respecter of persons." The joy and peace which followed this experience cannot be told in words, for to the Scientist it was a foretaste of heaven.

Shortly after this an opportunity came for the neighbor to take charge of a small business which not only enabled him to make the payments on his home, which he was about to lose, but which employed the family most of the day, thereby bringing peace and quiet to the Scientist. From that time on good will reigned where before had been hatred and strife. The Scientist was enabled to help them in many ways, and harmonious relations were established. She was learning to love her neighbor as herself, and thereby proving the blessedness of fulfilling the golden rule and doing mentally unto another as she herself would be done by.

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