Article March 13, 1926 Issue

Overcoming Discordant Relationship

ETHEL CHALLENOR INCE

One of the greatest blessings that Christian Science has brought into human experience is the understanding of how to overcome the sense of discord in human relationships. Undoubtedly, among the chief sources of mental distress, with its resultant physical suffering, are the discords arising from misunderstanding, incompatibility of temperament, the inability to appreciate another's point of view, with the almost inevitable conflict of human wills. Many thousands of students of Christian Science have testified at Wednesday evening testimony meetings and in our periodicals to their gratitude for having been lifted out of just such conditions of discordant relationship; for having, through the practice of its teachings, gained not only the broader viewpoint, which enables them to be tolerant of another's aims, or lack of aims, but also the ability to realize that individual unfoldment must necessarily differ, and that every individual has the perfect goal set before him, which must be reached sooner or later, whatever path is taken.

If it be the path of mistakes that is chosen, the lessons taught by the mistakes may become blessings, since "by reversal, errors serve as way marks to the one Mind," as Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to theScriptures" (p. 267). Meanwhile the atmosphere of calm, undisturbed tolerance on the part of him who might otherwise be critical, harsh, or condemnatory, is more conducive to a realization of the error by the one involved, and to a clear perception of just where the mistake has been made and just how and where it should be corrected. So it is that through our own overcoming we may be instrumental in helping in the awakening and healing of our brother, instead of through condemnation and discouragement sending him farther down the scale of erroneous belief.

Many a beautiful physical healing has resulted from such a change of thought. A student of Christian Science had for more than a year suffered from frequent attacks of a severe physical trouble. The acute pain made it very difficult for her to go about her daily work, which took her some distance from home. Several times the aid of a practitioner was asked and lovingly given, with beneficial results; but in a short while the trouble would return. At length the student decided to have a talk with the practitioner to discover, if possible, the cause of the difficulty and uproot it. After a helpful conversation the practitioner said quietly: "Have you not been thinking that you are being obliged to do this work through the fault of another? Have you not rather resented the fact that you are obliged to do something which you feel you should not have to do?" "Yes," slowly came the reply, "I have." The student did some earnest thinking on the subject, and began immediately to relinquish the false and cling to the true. She began to rejoice that she had the ability and the opportunity to do the work required, and to know that no demands could be made upon her but those which come from the divine Mind. That occurred several years ago; but not once has there been any recurrence of the physical trouble.

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