Article March 29, 1924 Issue

The Reward of Paying "the uttermost farthing"

GERTRUDE L. HATCH

Along the path of life are experiences like guiding stars illumining the way to larger experiences. Unfolding opens the way whereby the largess of divine Love becomes available.

Once while making a call, a beginner in the study of Christian Science was criticized, and Christian Science was opposed. It seemed wise to make no answer other than lovingly and quietly to leave the house. The student went to her home longing to be far more deeply conscious of the presence of divine Love, which she knew could be gained from a study of the Bible in connection with Mrs. Eddy's written works. She wished to reach that consciousness expressed by Mrs. Eddy in "Unity of Good" (p. 49): "To me the reality and substance of being are good, and nothing else. Through the eternal reality of existence I reach, in thought, a glorified consciousness of the only living God and the genuine man. So long as I hold evil in consciousness, I cannot be wholly good."

On reaching home, she read the fifth chapter of Matthew until the words, "First be reconciled to thy brother," were reached. How could there be a reconciliation when it was desired by only one of the two individuals involved? Another pause was made over the words, "Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing." How could that be done? On page 1 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says, "Desire is prayer." It was understood that the desire to know the truth about the situation, the desire to understand, the desire to be obedient to divine guidance, was a prayer that would bring its own answer. As the reading continued, peaceful, orderly thinking began to take the place of confusion, until the student saw clearly that the work she had to do was entirely within her consciousness.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

The Reward of Paying "the uttermost farthing"

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access