Article May 8, 1926 Issue

Watching Which Heals

EMILY EDWARDS

On page 84 of "Retrospection and Introspection" Mrs. Eddy writes, "He who sees clearly and enlightens other minds most readily, keeps his own lamp trimmed and burning." Many a young student of Christian Science, filled with gratitude for healing received, or with joy in the newly-discovered higher concept of God taught in Christian Science, sets forth with zeal untempered by wisdom to bring others to a knowledge of the truth which means to him health and happiness; and he is often sorely hurt, and not a little puzzled, by the indifference, mild toleration, or bitter scorn, as the case may be, with which his well-meant efforts are met. In disappointment and discouragement he may fail to remember the road by which he himself has traveled and the never failing patience and wisdom of the Father, who has protected him and led him to the point he has reached. He may, perhaps, undergo many more struggles before he sees that he needs to demonstrate a higher degree of understanding of the design of divine Love and of the omnipotence and universality of good.

The belief of evil is always attempting to clothe itself in the robe of good, and in this way to frustrate the work of those who are earnestly striving to follow the Christ. It may come in the subtle suggestion that the growth of Christian Science in a particular neighborhood is very slow, or at a standstill, and that, unless Christian Scientists do a lot more running about and preaching and teaching, in season and out of season, the work there will soon cease! This suggestion is often mistaken for the urge of Truth, and, led on by it, we toil and labor in a way which an increased knowledge of God's eternal and unfailing law shows us is unnecessary and often futile.

More generally, perhaps, than for any other reason, mankind is turning to Christian Science in the hope of thereby receiving healing from disease. The possibilities of Christian Science are not, however, confined to this one branch of its activities, any more than one ray of sunlight can be said to constitute the sun's effulgence. As the interpretation to this age of the truth concerning God and man, which based the works of Christ Jesus, Christian Science has a bearing upon every phase of life and activity; and a demonstration of physical healing has not achieved its highest purpose if it has not opened out before the one so healed something of the truth of being underlying the work, and awakened in him a desire for a greater and higher knowledge of this truth. We have the promise, "They shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them;" and we have to be on guard lest we let impatience or intemperate zeal make us forget this promise and attempt to lead, rather than follow God, divine Principle, in the inevitable unfoldment of His power over all.

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