Article June 5, 1920 Issue

Be Joyful

ETHEL SANOR COMMERFORD

The one consciousness, which is conscious only of good, forever recognizes and sustains the infinite idea, man. The eternal fact is that this one divinely joyous consciousness is all there is to real being. Man's real experience is now, and forever will be, joyous, free, harmonious, eternally conscious of infinite good. Hear the joyful song of the prophet Isaiah: "For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands!" God's children must be glad. Gladness is a quality inherent in the divine Mind and is always expressed by man. Quoting again from the prophecy of Isaiah, "Behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy."

One who will persist in singing praises to God for His wonderful goodness to the children of men, in times of seeming trouble, will experience actual joy and behold right activity where discord seemed to be. A number of years ago a mother, who was a Christian Scientist, proved this to be true. Her child, only a few weeks old, had what mortal mind claimed was a serious disease. Neighbors declared that a child so young seldom recovered. The little fellow was faithfully treated, but did not seem to improve. The mother then realized that she must rejoice by acknowledging the omnipresence and omnipotence of infinite Life, Truth, and Love, this Life being forever expressed by its idea. Anxious thought was replaced by confidence and courage. This attitude of right thinking unfolded a greater sense of the fatherhood and motherhood of God. The mother then went about her usual work, leaving the little one in the tender, loving, unfailing care of the one infinite Mind, in whom all live and move and have their being. The healing was soon accomplished, and the mother experienced "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding." Fear and discord were replaced by joy and freedom, expressed in right activity.

Why should God's children not sing His praises continually? Is not this what Mrs. Eddy has taught Christian Scientists to do and what she herself did, even during times of misunderstanding and persecution? On page 124 of "Miscellaneous Writings," Mrs. Eddy says of infinitely loving consciousness, "For 'who is so great a God as our God!' unchangeable, all-wise, all-just, all-merciful; the ever-loving, ever-living Life, Truth, Love: comforting such as mourn, opening the prison doors to the capative, marking the unwinged bird, pitying with more than a father's pity; healing the sick, cleansing the leper, raising the dead, saving sinners." This consciousness of joy is man's real consciousness now, and Christian Scientists are demonstrating it in the degree that they understand this absolute truth and disbelieve that anything can be conscious but good.

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