Article August 17, 1918 Issue

As We Journey

ROSS S. PILLSBURY

As the student of Christian Science journeys along the way leading from material sense to Soul, through the wilderness of human belief and fear, doubt and discouragement, he comes at times to that "certain place," which it is written that Jacob "lighted upon ... and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep." How descriptive this is of some of the experiences of the young student who is just awakening from the dream of materialism to the great truth of being. How often has some problem which seemed so real and beyond our understanding brought us to this "certain place" where we have slept all night "because the sun was set." In other words, through a lack of sufficient faith in the omnipotence of God, good, and a resultant belief in sense testimony, we have allowed our understanding of Truth to be overshadowed; and as the material senses were allowed to temporarily gain the ascendancy, have not we, too, taken "of the stones of that place," and put them for our pillows, and lain down in that place to sleep? Have we not let discordant conditions, whether of anger, hatred, fear, sickness, sorrow, or pain, hide the light of ever present Love from us, thereby rendering us to that degree asleep to the truth of being?

We read, however, that even while he slept Jacob became conscious of the presence of God, of Life, Truth, Love. "And behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it." A ladder is that by which one ascends or descends, and its spiritual significance as here used represents Christian Science, "The law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony" (Rudimental Divine Science A correction was made in the September 14,1918 Sentinel: The first quotation from Mrs. Eddy's writings appearing in second paragraph of article entitled "As We Journey," on page 1006 of Sentinel of August 17, 1918, is from "Rudimental Divine Science" instead of "Retrospection and Introspection," as stated. , p. 1). The angels ascending and descending upon this ladder of understanding are most beautifully described by Mrs. Eddy on page 581 of Science and Health: "Angels. God's thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect; the inspiration of goodness, purity, and immortality, counteracting all evil, sensuality, and mortality."

As the understanding of the all-presence of divine Love dawned upon Jacob, we read that "Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not." What comfort, what a never failing source of strength to know that we can awake to the realization of the all-presence of our Father-Mother God no matter what the situation may be, or where we may be, and enter into man's birthright of dominion over the material senses. This ladder of understanding which was set upon the earth, the top of which reaches unto heaven, is always available; it is for us all, and whether we be at the bottom or higher, the angel of the Lord ever "encampeth round about" us. Thus are we enabled to rise "early in the morning" with the dawning of a truth-illumined consciousness and express gratitude and thanksgiving as did Jacob, for we now see clearly that all the discordant conditions which had seemed so real have but served as the needed steps whereby we are enabled to obey the promptings of that still, small voice of Love, ever bidding us, "Go up higher."

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