Article January 10, 1925 Issue

What Calls Them Home?

JACK TOOGOOD

A Follower of Christian Science was one day privileged to pay a visit to a good friend who was the owner of a flock of homing pigeons. Four of their number had that very day been entered for a race, and it was with joyful expectancy that their home-coming was awaited. The race was some two hundred and sixty kilometers in length, and on this particular day there was a fairly strong cross-wind blowing. Presently came a pigeon which, after gracefully circling once or twice and turning downward, perched on his loft. Quickly following came a second, a third, and a fourth, so that within the space of about fifteen minutes all four competitors were home, having covered the distance in about four hours. All had unerringly steered their way across country, having overcome the influence of the cross-wind. The follower of Christian Science learned from this performance a valuable lesson; and for some time he vividly remembered the wonderful assurance possessed by those birds, which unwaveringly had come "out of the blue" and made straight for home. He left his friend with the burning question, What called them home? Obviously it was a manifestation of intelligence. But why should these little feathered creatures reflect such intelligence; yet men, who are their superiors, seem incapable of emulating this wonderful performance?

Days passed without much light on the subject; and then there came a new sense of home. Study was given to the Lord's Prayer and to its spiritual interpretation, as given in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy (pp. 16, 17), the first line of which reads, "Our Father-Mother God, all-harmonious." There it was! "Our Father-Mother"! Why! from childhood, home meant father and mother; and the call,—what constituted it? What called the children of Israel out of Egypt? What calls the present generation out of the bondage of material beliefs? What is calling to every one of God's little ones but the call of wisdom, of Truth, the call of their Father-Mother to return home? It brought the prodigal back. It is recorded that "when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."

To hear the call, that is the necessity; and what is to be done about it? Mrs. Eddy answers this question in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 1). "Humility is the stepping-stone to a higher recognition of Deity," she says; and the prodigal's words reecho, "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants." Yea, this call of wisdom knows no limits, but can be, and eventually will be, heard and accepted by all, "for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." This is no new promise, but an eternal one; and it is being fulfilled even now. "Now is the accepted time;" now may we have our ears unstopped, and with humble tears of gratitude listen for that loving call home, where we shall find that peace "which passeth all understanding."

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