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."

It is right that we all should examine ourselves as we talk, because as Christian Scientists we have "enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death" (Science and Health, p. 450); and as the sixth Tenet of Christian Science declares in part, "we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus" (Science and Health, p. 497). If that Mind be in us, then, we shall bear witness only to Mind, which will govern our thoughts and our conversation. What an unlimited opportunity for each to express good! Always we can be about our Father's business, encouraging some one here, pointing out the right way to another there, explaining difficulties when asked about them,—expressing divine Mind. Can we tell the extent of the right thinking that may thus be done, or how much good it will do? If our thoughts come from God, then they reflect His power; and it is impossible for them to fail in their purpose. Every right thought we express will correct some false belief, some illusion of mortal mind; and it will go forth with healing in its wings to lessen the evil beliefs of the world, which cause disease and death. How different life will be when men think and talk only of the things of God,—the beautiful, the good, and the true!

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