Article January 4, 1919 Issue

"Streams in the desert"

S. DANIEL LINDBERG

In the thirty-fifth chapter of Isaiah we find this beautiful promise: "In the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." Although this was written long years ago, it is full of meaning to the Christian Scientist to-day, for he understands what great possibilities lie in its spiritual and scientific application.

One day I was seemingly assailed with much force by hate and the disagreeable feeling that goes with it. I did not at first go to God with my trouble; but as I realized that the sense of evil was getting control of me, I remembered and prayed to God. At once came the answer, "Make channels for the streams of love" (Hymnal, p. 89). The light came so gently and with such healing effect that the presence of Love was plainly felt, and humility, praise, and thankfulness went out to God from a wounded heart. But that was not all. The line from the Hymnal also carried with it a powerful warning; for I had plainly been to blame for allowing hate to enter my thought. The demand to "make channels" was insistent. It would not leave me, and the question came, How can it be done? To one who was lazy the word "make" had a discouraging effect, for it meant work; it meant to keep on until the work was finished.

There is only one way to make hate flee, and that is with "streams of love,"—love that carries with it power to compel obedience and spiritual light to see how to go about it. When one is working with divine Love and for Love, he will soon find that hate is powerless; in fact, will find it gone, and it will never return if one is steadily employed in making channels for Love. In order to be able to make channels through all kinds of soil, or even rock, good tools, keen and sharp, are required; but for a student in Christian Science there is no lack of working material, for the supply is furnished through the grace of God and the loving efforts of our dear Leader, Mrs. Eddy, in establishing the various activities of The Mother Church and its branches, so that one who seeks for the needed supply is compelled to humble himself and give thanks to God. Love knows how to find us, and to lead out of darkness and despair into light and gladness. At first in making channels the work seems hard, but the reward is not slow in coming, and "the streams of love" have a loosening influence on the hard soil or deadened mentality, thus compelling one to go on with gratitude and thanksgiving.

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