Editorial April 19, 1919 Issue

Correcting Disappointment

William D. McCrackan

Christian Science proves by words and works the unreasonableness of disappointment. It is necessary to be constantly on guard against disappointment, for otherwise this acid corrodes the good metal of human character. If the spiritual vision is maintained through the unselfing of self, no disappointment in state or church, in the home, the schoolroom, or the business office can mar or mark our health and happiness. The waters of affliction roll off the mental backs of the spiritually joyous as water rolls off a duck's back. Divine Love never disappoints. The joys of Spirit brighten the path with healing and give the light of harmony. Disappointment over the characters of our neighbors, relatives, or friends can be eliminated by following the healing methods of Jesus, who used the good qualities of character and left the rest to be worked out in God's own way. To let the divine Mind outline means to cease from disappointment. Parents of wayward children, relatives of inebriates, business men faced by failure, practitioners handling stubborn disease and sin,—what real cause have they to lose hope, when God has already fulfilled all good?

The world seeks safety in routine; ecclesiasticism in ritual, formula, tradition, and precedent; but this leads to disappointment, for the efficiency of limitation destroys the vision of Spirit. In order to prevent disappointment, healing works must follow promptly upon good words. On page 452 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says, "Expect to heal simply by repeating the author's words, by right talking and wrong acting, and you will be disappointed."

Metaphysically the only enemy of humanity is the suppositious mind which opposes God. This carnal mind cannot know the things of God, but is the hypothetical creator of false mentality, material law, and false decisions. To follow the dictates of this carnal mind places the spiritually minded on the anxious seat, but to obey God hides them in the bosom of the Father-Mother. The prevalent trust in material efficiency delivers mankind over to be dogged by the false mind, which betrays the sick and suffering, the weak and erring, the poor and unintelligent into bitter disappointment; whereas trust in God reverses this disappointment and gives back to the false mind its own disappointment. Job declared: "He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night."

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