Article January 16, 1926 Issue

Heavenward

MARY ALEXIA CUSACK

Christian Science is sometimes referred to as the Science of right thinking; and justly so, for it is teaching mankind how thought may be rightly directed in order to be governed by divine Principle. As a rule, we have been accustomed to haphazard thinking in our reasoning from cause to effect or from effect to cause. Consequently, although we may perceive at times the demands of Principle, instead of faithfully obeying, we may perchance allow ourselves to be led astray. This may follow from contemplating the actions of others, possibly allowing circumstances and conditions to influence us, thereby hindering our progress heavenward, and then concluding that our divergence from the highest right was justifiable. Mrs. Eddy says in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 274), "Divine Science is absolute, and permits no halfway position in learning its Principle and rule—establishing it by demonstration."

There is and there can be no divergence, no deflection from Principle in Chrisitan Science. To be accurate demonstrators, we must conform to the law that demonstrates the perfection of Principle, God's law. This is imperative, even though events may cause us to think mistakenly of the result and consequence of our decision, and perhaps in this way lead us into byways of mortal reasoning, where fear is allowed to handle thought; and instead of viewing the whole proposition from the highest standard of Principle, we may become absorbed in considering mere results, judgment being thereby biased and decisions wavering and vacillating.

The necessity for exactness in complying with the scientific instructions given in our textbook on this point was illustrated in an incident which was related to the writer by a grateful, earnest student of Christian Science. A member of this student's household had treated with marked coldness, amounting almost to discourtesy, one of her dear Christian Science friends. This caused the student a sense of great indignation. She saw how she might retaliate, and in that way teach a lesson, by treating in like manner a guest of importance who was expected to visit the home. But this wrong thinking was quickly detected. She awakened to see the sin that was pouring poison into her thought: evil arguing in the light of good, expecting good to result from an unrighteous action. Then she turned to the Bible and Science and Health, and Truth illumined her consciousness, showing her that the desire to punish another was simply resentment, anger, rebellion. With this came the joy of a sense of the ever-presence of divine Love as the only power; so that when the expected guest arrived, no trace of error remained, rather was she refreshed by her mental purification and the consequent establishment of the right idea.

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