Article January 31, 1920 Issue

Uplifting Desire

GERTRUDE HARRIS RIX

To the writer, who had long been a lover of nature and the out-of-doors, there came a time, after beginning the study of Christian Science, when some doubt presented itself to her thought as to how, in the light of this new-old study, the beauties of nature were to be viewed; but as the vision of the spiritual creation gradually dawned upon her, these words of our Leader's in Miscellany (p. 129) were found very helpful: "The oracular skies, the verdant earth—bird, brook, blossom, breeze, and balm—are richly fraught with divine reflection," and in the light of these words many beautiful lessons were learned.

One such lesson was unfolded during a recent vacation period which was being spent largely in the study of our Leader's writings. One morning when out under the trees with the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," engaged in the study of the Lesson-Sermon, my attention was drawn to a young robin very near by, which was evidently just receiving his first instruction in the art of flying. He was making unsuccessful attempts to reach a window ledge not more than three feet above the ground. Several times he made the attempt, and each time failed to reach the desired place and fluttered back to the ground beneath.

All of this time, however, the mother bird in a near-by cherry tree was chirping continuously, and apparently, in bird language, encouraging the young robin to greater efforts. Finally to my surprise and delight, the young robin abandoned its attempt to reach the window ledge, and struck out boldly for the branches of the cherry tree, a distance several times greater than the one before attempted. This time there was no fluttering back; but instead he arrived safely in the branches of the cherry tree, where the mother bird's joyous chirpings were unmistakable. This little incident brought to mind a familiar passage from Science and Health (p. 262), "We must reverse our feeble flutterings—our efforts to find life and truth in matter—and rise above the testimony of the material senses, above the mortal to the immortal idea of God."

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