Editorial December 15, 1928 Issue

Receptivity

Violet Ker Seymer

Few people doubt that God, whom they acknowledge as infinite good, is bestowing all spiritual gifts continuously, impartially, and without measure upon all His creation. There are times, however, when one may forget to claim God's most precious gift of spiritual sense, of constant, conscious spiritual receptivity. Is the capacity to understand Christian Science a merely personal, material, or intellectual capacity? Is it not a true, spiritual capacity, derived from God, and as invariable as Christ, Truth, is invariable?

If one is ready to acknowledge that divine Mind is unceasingly imparting true ideas, that infinite Love is always expressing love to all, and that Life is eternally manifested in life, then the question arises, How may one learn unceasingly to receive, rejoice in, and express that "beauty of holiness," that life, health, and harmony which God is undoubtedly bestowing on His image and likeness? Why should there seem to be anything fitful or uncertain about one's spiritual receptivity as a student of Christian Science? Spiritual reflection is steadfast, pure, active, joyous; and in order that each one may prove this to be the case in his own experience, he must be ever on guard against the mortal beliefs which seek to identify him with fear, sin, and material self—indulgence, with fear of matter or faith in matter.

"The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." So says the Apostle Paul, who, from the time the light of spiritual revelation broke in upon him, was ever found fighting courageously on the side of Truth. If a student of Christian Science sits down to study the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly with discouragement in his heart, with indifference, or else with grudging obedience to the request of his practitioner, he yet may, if he will forsake these errors, obtain from his study the freedom, dominion, and joy which are spiritually discerned. Mrs. Eddy lovingly warns the student not to "shade God's window which lets in light" (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 90). The would-be obstructors of spiritual light may seem to take various forms, and may deceive one into thinking that his physical or his moral state is hopeless, beyond redemption, that he has turned to Christian Science too late, and so tempt him to draw down the shade of self-pity and self-condemnation. Another phase of mortal belief may suggest that one's suffering is undeserved; that one has lived a far better life than many who are enjoying health and prosperity. In this case, self-justification and a degree of resentment may tempt one to pull down the shade of materiality. So, personal sense may becloud the ever present spiritual light. But genuine spiritual humility can lift the shade, in all cases. Spiritual humility waits on God for enlightenment, and for that continuously unfolding vision of Truth which corrects and destroys false beliefs. Spiritual humility is never discouraged, never fretful, never self-satisfied, never sad; it is always eager, expectant, courageous, obedient, and grateful. Spiritual humility depends upon God, good, to the uttermost. In speaking of Mind's ideas, our Leader says, "In humility they climb the heights of holiness" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 514). What a joy it is to ascend daily above the deceiving suggestions of mortal belief, whether these masquerade as pleasurable or painful!

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