Article May 31, 1930 Issue

The Way in Christian Science

GWENDOLYN M. L. THOMAS

Until instructed in Christian Science, few people connect their experiences with their habits of thought. Too often religion is regarded as something largely divorced from practical affairs. To-day, for instance, a sick person may think that he has little to hope for in the way of healing through Jesus' teaching. Yet Jesus promised eternal life to those who learned of him; and he frequently referred to men's thoughts as being of great importance. The world in general, however, has forgotten this; and so to-day, when sickness or discord overtakes them, men are apt to look only to matter for help, ignoring the mental nature of their ills and their need of a spiritual remedy.

One who was deeply immersed in materialism and fettered by sickness, who dwelt a great deal in thought upon conditions of air, food, and occupation, was lying sadly upon her bed one day when she suddenly began to think over the advice proffered by a well-meaning friend to us more willpower, to will to think health and so improve her physical state. Upon meeting with a loving Christian Scientist a few months later, she was shown the "more excellent way." It was explained to her that God's power, rather than so-called human will-power, is the true healing agency. And the practice of continually lifting her thought to God and dwelling on His nature, rather than brooding over the discords seemingly so very real to painful sense, was proved to her satisfaction to be the sure method of rectifying her woes. This was the beginning of a new era for her; and better thinking soon resulted in a better sense of health and in greater freedom and usefulness. it was not, however, until years had passed by and many lessons had been learned that the wide scope of this regeneration through better thinking became apparent to this student. A mistaken concept of Life had been exposed and a new thought-modus discovered; but the gaining of spiritual understanding and even a small degree of spirituality seemed a difficult process, one requiring constant earnest effort.

The dawning of spiritual understanding, the gaining of the ability to keep thought more steadfastly occupied with what is real, may at this state of our experience appear to involve struggle and perseverance. We have learned that we have spiritual wings with which to soar, but have barely learned how to use them. But our loving heavenly Father places no obstacles in our upward way. We know there is nothing that can compel us to think differently from the way we ought to think; for one of the wondrous gifts of God is to have sovereign power over our thoughts. But spiritual truth has first to be grasped; and even though we may seem to advance but slowly, we shall surely progress in understanding.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Thought the Determinant Factor