Article April 12, 1919 Issue

God's Ideas

CATHERINE BROOKS

Looking back, at times, over the paths we have trodden since beginning the study of Christian Science, we can perceive some of the steps by which we have risen to higher planes and which enable us to get clearer views of the infinite ideas of Mind even though these steps were hard won, and perhaps appeared to be stopping places from which it seemed impossible, at times, to mount higher. Then a line, a sentence, in some of our literature, perhaps; a thought, an inspiration, would dispel the mist, and we would get a glimpse of that which is beyond, encouraging us to renewed effort.

On page 76 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says: "The sinless joy,—the perfect harmony and immortality of Life, possessing unlimited divine beauty and goodness without a single bodily pleasure or pain,—constitutes the only veritable, indestructible man, whose being is spiritual." Could this be anything but spiritual consciousness, could it bring anything less than freedom, when understood, and is there any other way to gain this "sinless joy" save by earnest endeavor to attain to this state of consciousness?

More than once the question has arisen as to what God's idea, or the right idea, of man is, and in trying to make this clear to herself as well as to others, a flower or other object was taken by the writer to illustrate. In calling to mind this thought of a flower, it was clearly seen that while a flower always meant just that,—a flower,—yet there were thousands of different types, or expressions, of flower. To one it would bring into thought a rose; to another a lily, perhaps, or a columbine; and so on indefinitely. Take also a tree; to one it would call up a picture of beauty, towering high and graceful, to another the thought of shelter and shade, or of utility perhaps, and food—a fruit tree. The writer knew a man who saw nothing whatever in a tree but what it would bring as lumber—to his sorrow, he admitted; for his god was money, and his business lumber.

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