Article January 3, 1931 Issue

Meeting and Greeting

INEZ KOCH

One of the most dreaded of human experiences is the parting of loved ones occasioned by so-called death. If death were true, real, and final, as the physical senses claim, then there would indeed be no hope or help to be found. With what sweetness and comfort does the teaching of Christian Science come to us, showing us the undying nature of our spiritual selfhood! Through Christian Science we learn to meet true ideas in the presence of God, for students of this Science are ever endeavoring to reflect God. Through spiritual realization we experience this sweetest meeting, for in the uplifted consciousness we see only God and His perfect idea, man. The glory of divine qualities, temporarily hidden by erroneous thinking, comes to light, and we rejoice in the primeval harmony when "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good."

As we progress in the understanding of Christian Science, the "line of demarcation between the real and unreal" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 505) becomes clearer to us, and we are able more quickly to reject the defacing characteristics of so-called mortal mind and to replace them with true, spiritual qualities. In our church activities and in everyday life, opportunity is provided to meet in Christlikeness with our fellow workers. In her address at the Annual Meeting, June 6, 1899, our beloved Leader writes, "Where God is we can meet, and where God is we can never part" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 131). So-called death cannot part spiritual ideas, since it cannot part man from God, the Mind governing all spiritual ideas.

Through spiritual discernment thought apprehends the divine purpose, and is not dismayed or deceived by the shadows cast across the path by mortal sense, even if one is called the shadow of death. Communing with God, we meet His ideas, and in this holy meeting we can really meet only that which pertains to the real man. Through the prayer of unselfish love the way opens for wonderful meetings of His ideas. In the infinite activities of divine Mind, ideas can never part. It is as easy to think of a friend at the end of the world as it is to think of a friend at the door. An idea never becomes dust, and it is immortal. As one believes less in the concept of mortal man, one perceives more of God's man. For enduring joy, permanent friendship, and undying love it is essential to meet spiritual ideas in the presence of God; for only in the presence of God is there no sin, and sin is the barrier to enduring happiness. We read in the Bible that through sin came death.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Orderly Church Business Meetings