Article September 2, 1922 Issue

Lessons from Nature

AGNESS B. SLAYMAKER

Toward the end of a summer at the seashore, one student of Christian Science learned a valuable lesson from the book of nature. There was a day of varying fog and sunshine. The sun came out clear and bright in the morning, only to be hidden in a few hours, as the fog came up from the ocean and enveloped hill after hill,—not black darkness, as when the earth is turned away from the sun, but veiled and obscured. The fog would surround one; and then fall back, only to return. This was followed by a day of unusual heat, with, toward evening, a most severe electric storm accompanied by seemingly angry winds, lashing sea and forest. Presently the wind abated, the rain ceased, and breaking through the clouds at the west appeared a most radiant sunset glow, first delicate and golden, then gladdening with warmer light until, although still skirted by dark clouds, the rich crimson promise of a new day of sunshine and joy stretched across the western sky. A soft, cooling breeze bathed and refreshed all; and one by one the little stars took their places in the heavens. The morrow dawned,—one of those glorious days when cloudless blue sky is repeated in a bluer sea, when refreshing breezes play in wooded branches, the air so clear that hill after hill could be seen with mountains purple in the distance.

What a picture of the progress of the Christian Scientist from matter to Spirit! When he first finds the light,—perchance experiences a beautiful healing,—he comes out into the clear sunshine of God's love, and thinks there is nothing more to do, that his troubles are at an end. He is radiant with joy. Then the fog begins to creep in upon his consciousness. He discovers some error has had a dwelling place with him, which would cloud his enlightened sense; but it has only been uncovered that it might be destroyed. The fog lifts and goes out, only to creep back again and cloud his view. He knows the sun of Truth still shines; so it is for him to look about for the intruder that would put this veil between. As the heat of the world's work has seemed to press upon him, he has perhaps nurtured some pet secret sin, some selfish or sensuous thought. Perchance he has neglected the daily study of the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, in the press of some material obligation or pleasure in itself all right, or, perhaps, necessary, but which he has not yet learned to see cannot come first. Christ Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Down in his heart the student honestly wishes to live the truth more than anything else. But it is so easy to let the other things crowd in, if he is not ever on the alert to see that the seeking of the kingdom is not to be shoved aside until everything else is done. Once started on the road to Truth he cannot drift entirely away. By and by there comes the thunderstorm. It may be in the form of some illness, some mental depression, or some financial difficulty. It is only error destroying itself to clear the atmosphere, that he may have the far vision of Truth. Then the student turns back to his textbooks with renewed endeavor to find his remedy for every ill. He fills his mind with right thoughts, thus putting on the "robe of righteousness." Secret sins are uncovered, —things which perhaps before would not have been considered sins, but which in the light of Truth it is seen cannot belong to the consciousness of him who has learned what it means to have "no other gods before me." He sees he can recognize absolutely no power but Spirit, no sensation but that which is spiritual. Old habits of thought are rooted out, never again to have place or recognition. He has taken one more step in his ascent of the heights of Truth. His mental atmosphere is clear; his sky, without a cloud of fear or doubt; his sunshine, not a scorching heat, but "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." His consciousness is illumined with joy and gladness and newness of life.

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