Article June 13, 1931 Issue

Fruits of the Spirit

IRENE RENEW

"Christian Scientists bring forth the fruits of Spirit, not flesh." This terse statement by our revered Leader in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 153) gives us food for much meditation. As we take this thought into our consciousness the questions arise, What are these fruits of Spirit? and, How can they be expressed in daily living? Paul, that courageous exponent of spiritual truth, has given us a very definite answer by declaring the fruits of the Spirit to be "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." He also declares that no false beliefs or so-called mortal laws can render them ineffective.

Let us consider love, the first quality of which Paul speaks. Since Love is Spirit, love must be a quality of God. What a poor counterfeit is so-called mortal love, which in a moment may turn to hate, jealousy, and resentment! True love, reflecting Mind, is intelligent, wise. As one strives to obey the command to "love one another," personal sense cries out, How can I be always loving when those with whom I come in contact are often cruel, indifferent, and sometimes malicious? What comfort it gives to know that we do not have to love a sinning, discordant mortal, but only God's man, who is lovable and lovely. It simplifies our problems to remember that evil "is neither person, place, nor thing, but is simply a belief, an illusion of material sense" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 71). Then we can know that the error we seem to behold in a person is no more a part of his true selfhood than it is of God. As we persist in this true thinking, we find ourselves spontaneously looking for and discerning good in those we meet. Looking expectantly for good in others can be a very happy occupation.

Spiritual joy and peace are so closely interwoven with love that it is difficult to separate them. Indeed, joy and peace are the inevitable results of obedience to the law of Love. The joy that is spiritual has nothing in common with the mortal concepts of frivolity, hilarity, and delight in materiality. Spiritual joy should not wax and wane; it should not soar one moment, to fall the next under the weight of boredom, monotony, or sudden disturbance. Real joy rejoices in good; never for a moment doubts the presence of good, even when error seems real and terrifying. Man, as God's constant reflection, possesses joy in abundance.

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