Article April 19, 1924 ISSUE

Conversation

WILLIAM WATSON

Conversation is a means by which mortals communicate thoughts to one another, one of the ways of expressing motives and desires; and sometimes it is used as a means of persuading others to follow evil suggestions. It is evident, therefore, that conversation is something which may be utilized for good, and also for evil purposes. Since conversation expresses thought only, before we speak we should examine our thoughts to see of what sort they are. Some one was once asked why he often took so long before answering a question; and his reply was that his mother taught him never to answer until he had first thought about the question.

Do all think before they answer? It is not by any means hard to think. Then should not all take full advantage of this wonderful faculty? Many a harsh word and foolish statement might have been avoided and a wise remark made instead, if we had first stopped to think. Paul indicates the right kind of conversation when he says, "Our conversation is in heaven;" and in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 291) Mrs. Eddy tells us, "Heaven is not a locality, but a divine state of Mind in which all the manifestations of Mind are harmonious and immortal, because sin is not there and man is found having no righteousness of his own; but in possession of 'the mind of the Lord,' as the Scripture says." Our conversation, then, to be "in heaven" must spring from that divine state of consciousness which is harmonious, without thought of sin. Heaven is here, and to converse in heaven requires right thoughts. When these are present there will be no thoughts of wrong or of criticism against our brother, but we shall see him as God sees him, and realize that God's child can reflect only love and intelligence, devoid of evil suggestions. Then also, there will be no harsh word or stinging rebuke, no unkind insinuation, spoken or unspoken, but instead there will be expressed "the fruit of the Spirit," which is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."

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