Article October 17, 1931 Issue

This Hope

ELLA MAY SCHWARZ

In the third chapter of I John we find the familiar words, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." A definition of "to hope" is "to trust with confident expectation of good." That hope is necessary Mrs. Eddy makes plain in her statement in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 394), "Knowledge that we can accomplish the good we hope for, stimulates the system to act in the direction which Mind points out."

In the beginning of our study of Christian Science we marvel at the things we hear and see. The testimonies of healing given at the Wednesday evening meetings, and those printed in the periodicals, awaken our hope that we too shall be made "every whit whole." This hope planted in our consciousness, the purifying process is begun, and we are aroused by a desire to know more of this spiritual method of healing.

Perhaps our earlier demonstrations of the power of divine Mind may seem simple to the onlooker; but our joy is great, and we know this hope is at work purifying and freeing us from false beliefs, and we press on. Presently, we have larger opportunities to prove in our affairs that divine Love is omnipresent and omniactive, and we are calmly carried through deep waters on to dry land—on to the sure foundation of God's allness. There may be times when this hope seems dim and we find we must be steadfast, and calmly and confidently listen for the "still small voice" of the angels of His presence. Then some promise in the Bible or our textbook, or some thought expressed in an article in one of the periodicals, awakens us to renewed hope, and the purifying process continues.

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