Article August 8, 1931 Issue

Know Yourself

Della M. Whitney

There are times in the experience of many an individual when he feels he is in the midst of very discordant surroundings. These may appear as home conditions, business environment, or some other phase of inharmony. He may have thought of the situation as real, contemplated its false evidence and meditated upon it, until he has come to believe that evil is really present and is doing something. This one should turn resolutely from material sense and begin to contemplate the things of God. On page 587 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy gives the following definition of "God": "The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence." The all-powerful truth presented in this definition, if realized, is able to eradicate and transform any discordant situation with which one might seem to be confronted.

First of all, there cannot be any real discordant situation. Since God is omnipresent, all space must be filled with the presence of God. "If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there," writes the Psalmist. There cannot be any place where God is not; and since God is Mind and God is infinite, omnipresent, omnipotent, all power belongs to Mind.

A belief of resentment, hatred, or revenge may claim to be operating in a situation. The realization of the truth that God is Love and that He fills all space will annihilate these enemies. As in the light of the definition of God one works carefully, prayerfully, and understandingly on any discordant situation, he soon begins to see that there is no place for error to exist, no mind to think or express it, and no power to give it activity. The whole trouble may be his belief that there is a discordant situation and that many minds are thinking and expressing evil. It is readily seen that the correction of this belief must be made in his thinking. But, someone may say, although I have corrected my thought regarding it, the error still seems to be in evidence. Are we sure that our thought of the situation is entirely corrected? Have we lost all belief in the reality of the error, through separating it from man and seeing its nothingness? If we have, and still it seems to be manifested by another, we have done our part, and can then abide by Jesus' words to Peter, "What is that to thee? follow thou me." Our duty and obligation are always to God. To get our thought right with Him is our need.

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