Receiving Thy Sight

VIOLET KER-SEYMER

Foremost among the divine gifts to be desired and claimed is that of spiritual receptivity; for this gift brings with it the possibility of the continuous demonstration of Godlikeness. The question troubling some of us may be, What hinders our receptivity? Through the study of our Leader's Bible Lesson in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 180), fresh light is thrown on this subject by the chosen text, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God," as well as on her elucidation of it. Neither human will nor materiality is capable of receiving good; for the true cannot be grafted on to the false. Any individual consenting to trace his origin to matter would be limiting his demonstration of spirituality at every turn.

The revelation of Christian Science did not reach Mrs. Eddy through the five corporeal senses, but in spite of them; for she did not allow their false testimony to hinder her deep spiritual consecration. Paul says: "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." What is this "natural man" but a suppositious mortal mind personified, with its obstructive beliefs of fear, doubt, discouragement, sensual pleasure, and pain? Spiritual man is entirely and consciously receptive and spiritually expressive.

Spiritual sense seeks and finds joy and inspiration at the open fount of Spirit; in the words of Isaiah, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." If we would seek the Christ, we must vanquish doubts and encumbrances of every kind. These may claim to grow subtler; for instance, the sincerest student may be tempted to listen to the silent suggestion that he is slow and unreceptive. Secretly discouraged, he may try to carry on his study without reversing this lie. Let him add to his faithful study the denial of any suggestion of lack of receptivity, on the ground that every one of Mind's ideas is endowed with spiritual receptivity, because God's creation is entirely good, "and without him was not any thing made that was made." Spiritual inspiration is the token of Love's ever-presence; and through temptation overcome, receptivity continues unhindered, and we are anointed with the "fresh oil," the renewed heavenly inspiration, referred to by the psalmist. Spiritual man, the only man, is the transparency through which God's goodness shines without let or hindrance.

Let us, then, resolve simultaneously to expose and dispel every would-be deterrent of progress. On pages 115 and 116 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, we find the "Scientific Translation of Mortal Mind" defined under the heads of "First Degree: Depravity," "Second Degree: Evil beliefs disappearing," and "Third Degree: Understanding." Since we yearn to be receptive, let us not pass too lightly over the depraved beliefs of envy, deceit, self-justification, and others which inevitably hinder the healing of the one who is indulging them. Study, without overcoming, avails nothing. In order to receive, we must detect and give up false mental, moral, and physical indulgences. Through this constant regeneration and the practical cultivation of all transitional qualities, such as faith, temperance, humanity, and so on, error gradually vanishes, and we find our consciousness daily widening and warming in the dawn of spiritual understanding.

Mind's idea is as free from materiality as is God, Spirit. Are we, then, bravely declaring our true, God-bestowed purity? Christian metaphysics requires us to dissent from every suggestion of sinfulness, because assent would be a denial of God's allness. Christian Science teaches its students to dwell joyfully and confidently on the nearness and present availability of divine Love in every need. It brings the assurance that there is in reality only one point of view, only Love's outlook, clear, harmonious, and of infinite range. In the parable of the sower, our Master shows that the "word" when heard, and theoretically accepted as true, without having been received into the heart and life of the individual, becomes unfruitful; whereas, the true receptivity is described as "such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred." Man's spirituality is an ever present fact; and we can assuredly relinquish all pride, despondency, or other evil beliefs, and open our hearts to receive that which Love is bountifully bestowing. When the heart is touched to the point of demonstration of the teachings of Christian Science, the tender, healing grace of God is felt, and His Son is revealed in us. Charles Parsons has written:—

Oh do not bar your mind
Against the light of good;
But open wide, let in the Word,
And Truth will be your food.

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