Resisting Evil

FRANCES DE WITT JOHN

Some youths were wending their way up a precipitous mountain trail. With increased elevation the way became steeper and more narrow; but as each vantage point was gained, they enjoyed a more commanding view of the mountains and the valley. A beautiful spot into which the path widened seemed to invite the travelers to rest before attempting to scale the steep trail beyond; but the harmony of the surroundings was quickly marred by the angry rattle of a snake. Disturbed by their advance the reptile presented a formidable appearance which seemed to dispute the right of way. All but the leader fled precipitately down the trail over which they had come. The leader, a student of Christian Science, calmly facing the disturber, insisted upon the utter unreality of evil which the serpent seemed to typify. Confronted by the witness to Truth, the disturbed reptile shrank, the hissing ceased, and slipping from the rocks it sped swiftly and silently away.

Pointing out the nothingness and consequent powerlessness of evil, Mary Baker Eddy says in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 563), "But why should we stand aghast at nothingness?" Evil is disarmed when one scientifically and persistently knows its powerlessness. This fundamental truth, as revealed by our Leader, is the unfailing key to every situation. It is the truth which stays the serpent's sting and sends evil fleeing before the light of spiritual knowing.

Is not the foregoing incident typical of our journey Spiritward? Having learned in Christian Science the unreality of material things, we begin our mental ascent from the valley of material believing to the summit of true vision — spiritual knowing. The mental trail which winds upward may at times seem steep as we patiently strive to eject from consciousness defrauding material beliefs. But persistent effort is rewarded by the vantage point of demonstration from which we view all things with wider interests and truer motives. Like the serpent, error is disturbed by our advance, and seems to dispute our right to further progress. In school and in business evil may seem ready with its insidious suggestions to tempt us to rush pell-mell down the mental grades over which we have come, thus losing the vantage point we have gained.

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