Editorial November 9, 1929 Issue

Repression a Necessity

Albert F. Gilmore

Sometimes it seems that the seeker for spiritual healing stands, as it were, in his own light. While honest in his desire to progress spiritually, nevertheless he yields to suggestions and tendencies which delay and defeat the gaining of the freedom he would enjoy. A common phase of this experience is to excuse lack of demonstration in overcoming false appetites and other restricting beliefs with the thought that one has nothing to do to gain deliverance but to remain supine, consoling one's self with the declaration, "Well, God will take care of it in His own good time"!

The fact that there is no necessity for undue haste or anxiety does not justify delay and the continued indulgence of a mental state from which one would be free. Fear to exercise our highest sense of good is often the bugbear. Mrs. Eddy touches upon this state of thought with unerring directness on page 250 of "Miscellaneous Writings." "What the lower propensities express, should be repressed by the sentiments," she writes, and by sentiment is manifestly indicated the higher sensibilities, one's better sense. Now, this is exercise of the ability to choose the thoughts which one shall entertain; and as such it is tantamount to the exercise of our highest sentiments. Use of our best sense of good may be, in fact must be, practiced in the repression of evil suggestion. Such repression, however, will be necessary only so long as the consciousness of evil persists. When it is no longer mentally present, having been supplanted by spiritual truth, the need for repressing the evil beliefs will cease. This state of consciousness is arrived at through purification.

Failure to exercise our scientific sense in order to hold error in check may lead to disaster. One suddenly thrown into the water would scarcely lie supinely waiting for divine Love to rescue him. Rather would he, putting into use his highest understanding of the swimmer's art, strike out boldly for the shore, while knowing that God would give him strength in his time of need. Such effort, which would manifestly be an act of will, is quite analogous to the overcoming even by repression of the baser suggestions which the so-called mortal mind proffers for acceptance.

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