Article October 18, 1930 Issue

Door of Consciousness

JOHN CHARLES W. BIRD

In a beautiful article entitled "Love," with which every Christian Scientist should be familiar, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, writes (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 250), "As a human quality, the glorious significance of affection is more than words;" and she adds that it is "the gentle hand opening the door that turns toward want and woe, sickness and sorrow, and thus lighting the dark places of earth."

In studying this passage, a student of Christian Science questioned why the door should turn toward want and woe, sickness and sorrow. May not the significance of this be that we should open the door of our consciousness toward sin and sickness, so as let the light of Truth and Love shine on them and destroy them? Since sin and sickness are mortal illusions, the light of Love dispels these illusions, healing the sick and the sinning. In further illustration of this are Mrs. Eddy's words in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 159), "The true thought escapes from the inward to the outward." And Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is within you."

When we are conscious of the ever-presence of Truth and Love while "opening the door that toward want and woe," nothing that is not true and good can gain admission into our thinking: "want and woe" remain outside in darkness, nothingness; and thought, inspired and uplifted, realizes the truth of present spiritual perfection. Furthermore, Mrs. Eddy counsels us in the following words: "Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 392). If we are obedient, and admit into our thinking only right and good thoughts about ourselves, we shall admit only right and good conclusions about our neighbor also; for this is the one and only possible way of loving our neighbor as ourselves.

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