Article January 24, 1920 Issue

Substance

FLORENCE DAVIS KELLER

A Beginner in the study of Christian Science was pondering the definition of substance as given on page 468 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where we read: "Substance is that which is eternal and incapable of discord and decay. ... Spirit, the synonym of Mind, Soul, or God, is the only real substance." She had gladly welcomed the thought of God as Spirit, the one Mind, Life, Principle; yet substance seemed somehow to present a quality which was different in character and had always been associated with the beliefs of life as material.

She persevered in her efforts to understand even a little of the truth; for it had been proved to her over and over again that the childlike seeking finds the answer to prayer for spiritual understanding in the daily activity, whatever it may be. One day as she was shopping she selected some silk, ordering the number of yards desired. When the silk came, on unwrapping the bundle she found to her surprise the silk she had selected and another roll besides. One who was admiring the beautiful folds exclaimed, "What a bargain!" "No," answered the purchaser; "some one has made a mistake and I shall return the extra roll at once." She was quietly measuring the experience up to the unfolding idea of true substance. The return of the silk was indeed a happy occasion, and the girl who had wrapped the two rolls in one bundle was made glad and grateful by the correction of the error.

That evening as the student thought over the events of the day a beautiful unfoldment came to her thought. Substance, which had in the old way of thinking seemed to be material accumulation, stood revealed instead as divine Principle, Love, operative and demonstrable in and through human affairs. She saw clearly that although anything material would be capable "of discord and decay," the spiritual would never be taken away, and must, because God is infinite, continue to unfold and increase unto the fullness of a perfect knowledge of the amplitude of ever present good. It is in the consciousness of spiritual ideas that true riches are to be found, and the abundance of right thoughts is a realization and demonstration of abundance. Substance is free. Whosoever will may partake freely of it, even as all may partake freely of thoughts of Life, Truth, and Love. Lo, this is the very kingdom of heaven, and as it fills the thought more and more, the result is even as the Master said, "All these things shall be added unto you." Abundance is a natural manifestation of the one infinite Mind, and the things which are added when one has gained spiritual understanding are the natural manifestation of supply which has its origin in the right understanding of the divine Mind and its ideas.

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