Article March 16, 1929 Issue

Protection

MABEL CONE BUSHNELL

An earnest student of Christian Science, desirous of gaining a better understanding of how faithfully to carry on the work of a loyal Christian Scientist, had been troubled for some time by the expression "protective work." Experience had so plainly uncovered the seeming operation of error that a sense of fear resulted, which appeared difficult to overcome. A dread of attempting to accomplish tasks which came to hand arose because of the fear of inability to do the necessary protective work rightly, and so avoid inharmony. Through clinging steadfastly, however, to the truth that "God is All-in-all" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 468), some progress was made; and there was a constant prayer for more light regarding protection.

One day the question came to thought, What does one protect? Himself? Manifestly not the true self, since the real man is the image and likeness of God and abides in God's protection. A dictionary was consulted, and "to protect" was found to mean "to cover or shield from danger or injury; to defend; to guard; to preserve in safety." The only thing, then, that needs to be shielded from danger, defended, guarded, or preserved in safety is one's own sense of the truth. The truth in a particular situation was being established; and in this establishing of the truth in consciousness, there was need to be alert that misunderstanding, misapprehension, intentional wrong, or destructive qualities of thinking did not creep in to prevent the truth from being expressed. It was seen that protection or protective work means clearly the grasping of the truth regarding the situation, and rejecting the false claim, whatever it may seem to be. This would offer healing to every given case, through removing the lie completely, in accordance with the directions given by our Leader on page 419 of Science and Health, where she writes, "Your true course is to destroy the foe, and leave the field to God, Life, Truth, and Love, remembering that God and His ideas alone are real and harmonious." This message shows that true protective work so completely rejects the falsehood as to eradicate it entirely from one's mental household, leaving no slightest vestige to cause confusion or disorder of any kind.

In the familiar story of David and Goliath, the armor to which Saul was accustomed was irksome to David. The accouterments of war, though proffered in kindly consideration, may have been but as habiliments of fear and materiality to the clear-visioned shepherd lad, and therefore not usable. Instead, he procured five stones from the clear waters of the brook, and with these, his accustomed means of protection, he went forth, unhampered by human devising based on fear. His quiet confidence in God won the victory. His expectancy of good gave a mortal blow to the bombast of the carnal mind, with its belief in the power of evil, and destroyed it, delivering all who had been victims of fear of evil. David was not mesmerized by the giant's bluff; nor was he foolish enough to ignore him, and thus let boastful evil overrun the army and possibly destroy it.

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