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Journeying Heavenward
What constitutes the journey heavenward? Is it not made up of the daily and hourly correction of whatever is wrong in one's thinking? In the ordinary scholastic teaching, a footstep heavenward, or "one day nearer home" as we have commonly heard it expressed, usually brought to thought a state of existence known as the hereafter,—a condition to be experienced only after death. But not so does Christian Science teach. We hear expressions of profound gratitude from students of this latter teaching for having learned that they need no longer postpone heaven to some uncertain future date, but may even at this present time experience a large measure of it in more joyous, more perfect, more Godlike thinking and living. On page 291 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, says, "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."
And is not this exactly in accord with our Master's statement to be found in the gospel of Luke, "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you"? It is plain, then, that we are not journeying to a place; but by every righteous overcoming of whatever is unlike good in our thinking, we are nearing the realization of that peaceful consciousness or "mind of the Lord" wherein is found sure refuge and rest. One of the first steps we may all take in the attainment of this heaven within is to counteract all thoughts of bitterness, criticism, and suspicion with more kindly confidence, patience, and hopeful forbearance toward our fellow-men, refusing to harbor within our hearts any false accusations against our brothers. Who has not glimpsed somewhat of this heaven and experienced the resultant sense of peace when forgiving an enemy, or in thinking compassionately towards one who has sorely misjudged us? And again, what happiness has been ours when, in confidence and joy gained from our own triumphant experience, we are able, since "God is no respecter of persons," to reassure some fellow-traveler on this upward journey as to his sure reward for the honest effort we see he is making! Truly, the kingdom of God is within us,—within the possibility of every one's own realization and demonstration!
Under the marginal heading "Our footsteps heavenward," on page 426 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy, in speaking of her own experience, says, "The discoverer of Christian Science finds the path less difficult when she has the high goal always before her thoughts, than when she counts her footsteps in endeavoring to reach it." Why, indeed, do mortals take such complaining and mournful account of the number of footsteps required of them, when they may well be looked upon as but milestones in their pathway toward the promised haven of conquered sin? Surely this high goal is desirable enough of attainment to encourage one's most courageous and persistent effort.
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September 13, 1924 issue
View Issue-
Journeying Heavenward
NELLIE E. PEASE
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Steps Spiritward
ROSE A. LILLY KEMPTHORNE
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Weathering the Storm
JOHN J. WALLACE
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Evil Impersonal and Unreal
ESTHER SIMS BOWEN
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Truth
MARIA SCHLOZ
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Environment Always Opportunity
LILLIAN M. WATSON
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Joy
EDMUND HOGG
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"The song of Christian Science" *
HATTIE JOHNSON BONNELL
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A critic makes various reflections based on the somewhat...
Nils Lerche, Assistant Committee on Publication for Norway,
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Christian Scientists cheerfully admit the rights of all...
Willard J. Welch, Committee on Publication for the State of Iowa,
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May I have space to correct the statement that "Christian Scientists...
W. Truman Green, Committee on Publication for Florida,
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Christian Scientists are not engaged in the practice of...
Brigman C. Odom, Committee on Publication for the State of Texas,
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Speaking of Mrs. Eddy, Gerhardt C. Mars in his work...
Harry L. Rhodes, Committee on Publication for the State of Kansas
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Hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world...
Van Buren Perry, Committee on Publication for South Dakota,
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Overcoming Depression
Albert F. Gilmore
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Defense against Evil
Duncan Sinclair
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Individual Responsibility
Ella W. Hoag
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The Lectures
with contributions from Max Weichelt, Robert E. Key, T. N. McClelland, Alan Alexander Dick
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I am very grateful for Christian Science, for it has cured...
Arthur F. Davis
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I wish to express my sincere gratitude to God for Christian Science....
K. Sheila Mackenzie
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While reading in a public library, I came upon the...
Mary Cole Chapman
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Some five years ago I was practicing medicine with no...
Laura Beckmeyer
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For the last twelve years my life has been so transformed...
Annie Elizabeth Sheppard
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Words cannot express my sincere gratitude to God for...
Florence Zengerle
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I am so happy to send this testimony of healing—the...
Nora Buell Stewart
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When Christian Science came into my life I was in the...
Prescott S. Huntington
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Impelled by a deep gratitude to God and to our beloved...
Christine Pickel
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My Task
LELA E. ROGERS
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Signs of the Times
with contributions from Jason Rogers, Charles Stelzle, Fred Stone, Clarence Reed