"I love your promise"

CLARA B. STRICKLAND

In the midst of the glories of the autumn season a poet wrote regretfully, "The melancholy days are come, the saddest of the year."

Time was when the autumn season brought sadness to many because of a melancholy dread of the approaching winter, with attendant fear of cold and sickness. Mechanical improvements and inventions, however, have made it very generally possible to live in comfortable quarters, even in the country, and still keep in touch with the world. Fear of the winter has consequently lessened.

The writer formerly experienced the sadness expressed by the poet at each recurring autumn season of the year, until given a new point of view through the teachings of Christian Science. This sadness was completely overcome by the joy of knowing that instead of hinting of death the autumn season gives promise of a renewal of life. It is now well known that when leaves fall in the autumn the new leaves are already formed. These tiny new leaves are sealed up in protecting scales throughout the winter; then the warm spring sunshine brings about their unfoldment, by which the earth is again refreshed throughout the entire summer season.

Mrs. Eddy tells us on page 6 of "Rudimental Divine Science" that "all beauty and goodness are in and of Mind, emanating from God; but when we change the nature of beauty and goodness from Mind to matter, the beauty is marred, through a false conception, and, to the material senses, evil takes the place of good."

That God, Life, is eternal is a basic teaching of Christian Science. Moreover, the creator of all the manifestations of Life preserves them eternally. As man is the image, likeness, or reflection of God, Life, he is perpetually sustained. Jesus, the master Christian, said, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."

During a drive of nearly one hundred miles to view the loveliness of the colorful autumn foliage, a member of the party said, "It seems as if the leaves are saying, 'Praise God!' " They appeared to be giving glory to God, as their beauty hinted at the real, spiritual universe yet to be fully realized by the spiritualized thought. On page 60 of "Miscellaneous Writings" our Leader says, "Every material belief hints the existence of spiritual reality;" and again, on page 87, she writes, "In our immature sense of spiritual things, let us say of the beauties of the sensuous universe: 'I love your promise; and shall know, some time, the spiritual reality and substance of form, light, and color, of what I now through you discern dimly; and knowing this, I shall be satisfied.' "

That Life is indestructible was proved by Jesus through his raising from the dead those who had appeared to die, and by his own resurrection form the grave.

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