Article November 22, 1930 Issue

"Overflowing streams"

HELEN WARD BANKS

A student of Christian Science awoke one morning with such a sense of physical pain and weakness that it seemed impossible for her to get up. At once there flashed into her thought a strong desire to be where Truth is, and she asked the friend who was with her to read aloud the week's Bible Lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly. As she listened, she could feel the pure streams of Truth flowing through her consciousness, sweeping away false beliefs and flooding her thought with renewed peace and understanding. When the reading of the Lesson-Sermon was finished, she was able to arise in freedom and gratefully go about the business of the day.

This incident turned thought to the words of a hymn which bids us "make channels for the streams of love;" and though the hymn speaks only of love's "overflowing streams," we know that if we but open the way, joy and health and the supply for our daily needs will also flow into our experience from Spirit's limitless outpouring of good. If at times we lack these good things, it cannot be because the streams of living waters fail at their source. "Soul has infinite resources with which to bless mankind," Mrs. Eddy tells us on page 60 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," "and happiness would be more readily attained and would be more secure in our keeping, if sought in Soul." Then if we seem to lack anything, it must be because, as the second verse of the hymn tells us, we are failing to provide channels, because we are neglecting to open in our thinking an inlet for good.

Perhaps we are lonely, seeming to lack love. Do we think to fill the void with a personal friendship? Human affection may change overnight. Perhaps we may seem to be sick and suffering. Are we trying to find ease in matter, mere cessation of pain? Even if obtained, that surface relief may have nothing to do with the understanding of the more abundant life which Jesus knew. Perhaps we are unhappy, or are finding our daily tasks to be a drudgery. Again, do we conclude that we can pour interest into our living through restless movement or social advancement? Only discontent and unsatisfied ambition flow through that channel. Do we think that we are poor, and then keep our eyes fastened on the income that flows from a job or a bank account? The job may be lost and the bank account dissipated without our learning anything of real riches.

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