Article May 31, 1930 Issue

Spiritual Listening

LAURA LEE LINDSEY

A genuine Christian Scientist is always listening for the "still small voice" of God. The first evidence of an awakening from a material to a spiritual sense of things comes through hearing spiritually, and discriminating between the spiritual voice and the voice of the so-called carnal mind. The ability to yield to the spiritual and subdue the carnal marks one's spiritual growth. The carnal mind may not always be silenced without a struggle on our part; but error can only destroy itself, and when the storm of material illusion is over, the "still small voice" of God is heard bringing to the spiritualized human consciousness unspeakable joy and peace.

Eliphaz the Temanite had glimpsed the panacea for all human woe when he said to Job: "Acquaint now thyself with him [God], and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth." If spiritually heeded by all mortals, that inspired admonition would silence discord of every name and nature, and here and now in the everyday experience of all mankind usher in the kingdom of heaven.

Many of us go through somewhat similar experiences when we first turn to Christian Science and begin to make an effort to solve our problems according to its teachings. We may hold in thought a vivid human outline of what we wish to demonstrate. We may mistake material manifestation for demonstration. But true demonstration means a change in our thinking from a material to a spiritual basis, and spiritualization of thought is manifested in better outward conditions. When we lift our thinking into the realm of spiritual truth, we do not have to worry about the result. The more spiritual our thoughts, the more harmonious all our daily experiences become. In order to be freed from sin, sickness, sorrow, suffering, lack—discord of every kind—we must silence the illusory whispers of the carnal mind, and yield to the gentle presence and benediction of the divine Mind.

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