Article October 28, 1922 Issue

A Spiritual Symphony

ELSIE C. WISE

The first efforts to apply the understanding of the divine Principle of Christian Science are generally confined to individual problems; but as spiritual understanding unfolds and the demonstration of church membership is made, there appears a desire to take part in the church activities. At this point in the writer's experience the question arose of just how to combine individual right thinking with the thought of the whole; and an answer came to this question by applying what our Leader tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 254): "When we wait patiently on God and seek Truth righteously, He directs our path."

It came to the thought of the writer that the members of a church may be likened to the members of a great spiritual orchestra; for in the demonstration of this symphony of life, which consists of the unfolding of the harmonious reality of spiritual being, each member sits with the instrument of spiritual understanding in his hand, waiting for divine Love to call upon him to play his part. The director of an orchestra does not call upon a musician to play because of his personality, or for any reason of partiality, but because the notes in the musician's score are necessary to complete the harmony of the whole.

Should the Christian Scientist try to play a solitary or selfish part, prompted by human will or human planning, he would only add discord; but if he waits to be directed to use the talent of spiritual understanding given to him, he will help to complete the harmony of the whole. Sometimes a player sits through an entire performance with only a few measures to play; but these few notes may be necessary to complete the climax of a melody or theme. And so, we may appear to have only a very little part to play in the church activities, perhaps only the privilege of giving a few words of gratitude at a Wednesday evening testimony meeting; but this humble part is necessary to complete the harmony of the church services. And, moreover, "They also serve who only stand and wait."

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