Article January 30, 1932 Issue

Practical Application of Spiritual Ideas

[Original article in German]

PAULA ZEHN

On page 307 of "Miscellaneous Writings" the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, writes, "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies." Through these words a family recognized that the truth presented thereby was able to free mankind from anxiety, sorrow, and lack.

Owing to the general state of business, these earnest seekers of divine Truth found themselves in dire distress. New losses occurred each day and brought them to the verge of ruin. Anxiously they hoarded their small receipts to defray their daily expenses, but lack prevailed. One Saturday there was not enough money to buy provisions for the next day. In the afternoon one of them, a woman, had to do some work for the church, and on her way she called upon a Christian Science friend and asked her for a few helpful thoughts to aid her to meet the difficulty. This friend immediately offered her some money to relieve the momentary need. Although this kind offer was much appreciated, it was not accepted, for experience had shown that with borrowed money the problem of lack may be increased rather than solved. In order to bring about the actual solution of the problem the urgent need was for a better understanding of spiritual ideas. The advice then offered to her was that she should give. There was not enough time to ask for further explanations, and as the one in need hurried on her way to where she was to work she asked herself, How can one give when one has nothing one's self? Then she began very earnestly to pray, Father, open Thou my eyes, that I may see where and what I can give.

On entering the church she was met by a young girl crying bitterly who said that, according to the doctors, her mother was suffering from an incurable disease. Hearing the name of the complaint, the Scientist was able to tell the girl, with the greatest joy and conviction, that she could feel calm and happy because Christian Science could correct this error, a fact which had recently been made known to herself. Full of hope, the girl asked for the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, in order that her mother might benefit by the liberating study of it. During the hours following this incident other opportunities came to serve in similar ways. It was not until her time for working there had expired that the Scientist noticed that through the exercise of spiritual giving her own thought had been purified of the false sense of lack. On the way home her husband met her and said he had had unexpected receipts; and so the immediate need was adequately cared for.

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