Article July 15, 1922 Issue

Right Forgetting

JANE CAMPBELL KEMP

It has been said that Christian Scientists should be "good forgetters." To forget is one of the many things which so-called mortal mind most strenuously objects to doing. It likes to recall not only the pleasant experiences but also the unpleasant, and spends—or wastes—much time in thinking and talking about both, especially the latter. Now, the question arises, Is this kind of thinking or talking of any particular benefit to ourselves of to any one else? Was the experience—whether pleasant or unpleasant—true, or real? In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 525) Mrs. Eddy says: "Everything good or worthy, God made. Whatever is valueless or baneful, He did not make,—hence its unreality." So, by applying this test, we can very easily determine the reality or unreality of these experiences. An unkind act or word, an untrue or slanderous statement about any one, a dishonest or deceitful deed, the idle gossip one hears everywhere,—all would come under the head of "valueless or baneful." And, frequently, the experiences which mankind calls pleasant come under the same head; so, the sooner they are all forgotten, the better.

And what about the "good and worthy"? Do you say we should not forget them? Yes; for we are learning through the understanding of Christian Science that, as Mrs. Eddy writes in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 288), "Good is divinely natural;" so we need not act as though the "good and worthy" were something unusual, but just be grateful for them. There is also a right time to express this gratitude; and we should watch that error does not try to make us forget when we should instead remember. One such time is at the Wednesday evening testimony meeting. Here is an occasion when Christian Scientists sometimes appear to be "forgetters;" and, to quote from James, "My brethren, these things ought not so to be." Another time is when some one seems to be in need of just such an experience as we can relate,—a case of healing, a financial demonstration, or a demonstration over the various forms of self, such as resentment, pride, anger, envy. Then, let us not forget to tell it.

In Christian Science we find that forgiving and forgetting are very closely related. Often we hear the expression, "I can forgive, but I cannot forget." If that is the case, it is just as well, or better, to say nothing; for if we cannot forget we have not forgiven. We learn in Christian Science that "God's forgiveness of sin" is "in the destruction of sin" (Science and Health, p. 497). If the fault or sin is still a reality to one, it is not forgotten; consequently, it is not yet forgiven, and our prayer, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," is vain and void.

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