Digging Deep

In Luke's gospel, Jesus is reported as saying to his students, "Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock." A young engineer engaged in the designing of a stone arch bridge to be composed of cement and broken stone became quite perplexed over the problem and consulted a more experienced engineer, who informed him, greatly to his surprise, that he was simply endeavoring to design a substitute for a bridge cut out of solid rock, which would be the ideal structure. In building operations foundation is of paramount importance, and the best foundation is rock. Sometimes the rock may lie at such depth that the excavation and removal of the surface earth becomes too expensive and a substitute is resorted to. Combinations of various materials are often utilized to procure a satisfactory foundation, satisfactory only to the extent of being able to withstand a certain specified load. Every experienced engineer knows that there is no foundation to compare with rock, and only the great expense and labor involved in deep excavation prevents its continuous use. One does not need to be an engineer, however, to know this simple truth about rock foundation, and the use of it as a simile by Jesus in the passage from the Scriptures already quoted shows that the people of that time were acquainted with it. One great point in the scriptural reference is in the "digging deep." Has not Mrs. Eddy reiterated over and over again in her writings the necessity for deep and earnest study of the Scriptures and a search for Principle? In her textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," beginning on page 483, she says: "Christianity will never be based on a divine Principle and so found to be unerring, until its absolute Science is reached. When this is accomplished, neither pride, prejudice, bigotry, nor envy can wash away its foundation, for it is built upon the rock, Christ."

This "digging deep" is very essential to the student's growth, for otherwise the true foundation, Principle, will not be found and he will be shaken by every stream of human opinion and suggestion flowing about on the surface. It is astonishing what a lot of rubbish and débris there is lying around on the material surface. It sometimes assumes the shape of personal leadership and influence. Occasionally it suggests that one cannot be a loyal Christian Scientist unless he is on the side of a human majority or allows some one to do his thinking for him. From the standpoint of Christian Science, the habit of thinking for others is so near the surface as to be indistinguishable from dust.

It is wonderful what a different concept one gets of the true meaning of a word when Christian Science removes fear and enlarges one's vision. The word "deep" is an example of this, for it should convey the idea of depth of study and research. Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health, p. 313): "Jesus of Nazareth was the most scientific man that ever trod the globe. He plunged beneath the material surface of things, and found the spiritual cause." By her teaching and example Mrs. Eddy constantly endeavored to guide her students away from personality to Principle, for she knew that their well-being and the cause of Christian Science depended upon the understanding and demonstration of God, and that every student must work out his own salvation.