Article October 6, 1923 Issue

Promise

CHRISTINE H. BEALS

One might readily believe, from the evidence which presents itself on every hand, that mortals live and consent to exist because of the promise, instinct and insistent in the human heart, that life is in reality something bigger, and better, and finer than the preponderance of material evidence portrays. A survey of many of the lives about us reveals little to make life appear to be really worth the living. The struggle of the majority and the climb to worldly success by the few give sparingly of real comfort, and a meager reward of joy and peace. At the climax of his career many a one has said in his heart, "This also is vanity;" and he has longed for something real and enduring, something that would justify life and satisfy the heart.

If man were a material being, a creation of matter, there could be no voice within men crying out for a fuller, better life, for the supreme, eternal good. Yet this constant call of the heart for something outside and above and beyond mortal existence is common to all peoples and all races. It indicates the flame of immortality. In some cases it is but a feeble flicker; in others, it is the steady glow of a consuming desire. But be the flame faint or persistently bright, it shows the promise to be alive in the hearts of men.

In the springtime the agriculturist prepares the ground by careful plowing and harrowing, and scatters the seed into the soil, because of the promise. The grass grows green on the hillsides; the tender leaves unfold on the trees; and we recognize the fulfillment of the promise of growth and fruitage, symbolic of spiritual good, harmony, and abundance. There is much to be learned from the world about us, if we view it with understanding eyes. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 87) Mrs. Eddy says, "In our immature sense of spiritual things, let us say of the beauties of the sensuous universe: 'I love your promise; and shall know, some time, the spiritual reality and substance of form, light, and color,of what I now through you discern dimly; and knowing this, I shall be satisfied.'"

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