Article January 31, 1925 Issue

Environment

FREDERICK GEORGE WALKER

WE read in the Bible, "As he [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he;" and if we consider this text carefully, we shall see that it applies to nothing more clearly and distinctly than to environment. In spite of this, how often we hear it said by students of Christian Science that they could progress more quickly and be more scientific if the rest of their household were only studying its teaching; or, that they think they are being held back by the antagonistic thought around them. They also are sometimes heard to express envy of those whose circumstances in this respect seem to be more agreeable than their own. Should one find himself thinking along these lines, it might be well to stop and consider just what power he is giving to beliefs in evil,—to something other than God.

Mortal mind is always suggesting that we would be better and happier elsewhere; but it is just where we are that we have to exercise our God-given dominion over adverse conditions. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 468) Mrs. Eddy writes, "All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation." Obviously, then, the only environment there is, or can be in reality, is that of divine Mind, in which "we live, and move, and have our being." If, then, we allow ourselves to be deluded by the belief of inharmonious surroundings or conditions, we are simply believing in a false concept of Being, and naturally must suffer from this mistaken point of view.

The fact is that apparently adverse circumstances often drive us to seek a spiritual concept of the universe; and if we are faithful to that concept, we shall find not only that we shall experience the happiness which accompanies a better sense of home and home surroundings, but also that an apparent change will often take place around us. Many have testified, both at the Wednesday evening meetings and in the periodicals, that their homes have become changed places since Christian Science entered them; and this has often been brought about simply by the application of the rules of its divine Principle by one member of the family.

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