Article February 13, 1926 Issue

Obedience

GRACE REARDON POOLE

One day while attending a symphony concert, the writer closed her eyes, the better to enjoy the beauty of it. As she listened, a great sense of peace came to her. Suddenly she realized that if she had not seen the many musicians who were playing, she might well have believed that the music was issuing from one great instrument. She opened her eyes. Yes, there were at least ninety-five men and many different instruments, but harmony, oneness, beauty, were the only manifestations. Why? Because each artist was being governed by and was obedient to the laws of music. Each instrument was perfectly tuned in accordance with the law of harmony; each musician played his particular instrument perfectly, watching the conductor and abiding by his directions. The result was harmony, beauty, joy, blessing, an inspiration to all the eager listeners. Only by obedience was this attained. Had any individual suddenly desired to change the tempo to suit his particular fancy, or waited till later to tune his instrument, inharmony and discord would have resulted. Yes, it was strict obedience to the rules of music that made this beautiful symphony possible.

Then came the thought: Is this not true in life also? If our every thought and act were governed by the law of God, Love, and obedient to it, would not the result be harmony, perfection, and beauty expressed in our daily life? Had there been any discord in the symphony, no one would have thought of holding the laws of music responsible for it; on the other hand, every one in the vast audience would have realized instantly that the governing law had been ignored or violated, and that the remedy lay in studying and practicing further till a greater degree of perfection was expressed. So, in Christian Science, we learn that God, the divine Principle of being, is in no way responsible for accidents, poverty, sorrow, sickness, death—discord of any sort. We are emphatically told in the first chapter of Genesis, where we find the true record of creation, that "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." Then it is not God's law, but our ignorance of or disobedience to it, that causes all discord; whereas, the correct understanding of His law and obedience thereto brings liberty, harmony, perfection.

As with the members of the orchestra, so with us; we must be obedient to our divine Principle all the time, forever alert, silencing and destroying self-will, envy, mad ambition, self-righteousness, and all the myriad suggestions of error, if we would have abundance, health, joy, harmony, and perfection expressed in our daily experience. Is not this what is meant by "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ"? This is the goal toward which Christian Scientists are working. It may not be accomplished at once; but as we are sincere, as we learn to examine each thought that comes, asking if it is good, if it is in accordance with God's law, and accepting only that which meets this requirement, we shall find that we are indeed growing happier, healthier, more loving; for obedience to God's law always heals and blesses.

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