Editorial April 24, 1926 Issue

Gaining versus Giving Up

Albert F. Gilmore

Mortals are prone to cling to the beliefs which accompany material existence. They hold to be real the claims of the flesh, its pleasures and pains, its triumphs and defeats, because, until thought is leavened with spiritual truth, they have no other sense of existence, no other basis upon which to formulate their judgments. Moreover, if their premises be granted, their course is logical. When, however, in response to the healing touch of the Christ, thought is transformed ever so little, the seeming world of materiality loses something of its power and substantiality; and, under the progressive influence of unfolding Truth, its claims diminish, some disappearing altogether, while others lessen their seeming hold. Habits, perhaps of long duration, fall away; activities and interests undergo radical change; and one's outlook on life assumes an aspect entirely changed.

To one witnessing in another these outward manifestations of an inward transformation, it may seem that much of value is being abandoned; that something of intrinsic worth is being sacrificed. But because he is gaining a glimpse of reality, the one whose thought is being transformed rejoices in the new sense of freedom from the restricting bonds of error; he is making the acquaintance of the heavenly host of spiritual ideas, which constitute the realm of the real; he is learning about God and man's true selfhood as the expression of divine being; he is laying hold of the permanent and unchanging; he is building on the Rock of Ages a foundation from which mortal belief can never dislodge him.

Having tasted the joys of the Spirit, we never linger in contemplation of the past, but rejoice over the new-found treasure, priceless above estimate. If we hold to some false position, it is because we have not tasted the unspeakable joys of freedom from the self-imposed restrictions of material beliefs. The freedom resulting from the throwing off of confining claims of error is ample reward for every seeming sacrifice.

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