Article May 6, 1933 Issue

A Lesson from Trees

ADELAIDE ROGERS CALKINS

SIMPLE and helpful lessons may be learned from nature if the things that engage our attention are taken into the mental realm. Some of the parables Christ Jesus chose to give to his followers were illustrated by grain and trees. Among the parables are those of the tares and wheat, illustrating the good and evil in human experience; the barren fig tree, typifying unproductiveness; the mustard seed, typifying the spread of the gospel, of which he said, "The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof." Likewise our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in her writings has drawn lessons from nature; and in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," she says (p. 269), "Metaphysics resolves things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul."

It may be that words from the least expected source help to awaken the thought of one who has found the way of mortal mind unsatisfactory and insufferable, and who realizes the need of dependence on something more trustworthy than human opinion. If an illustration of spiritual truth from nature or the spoken word of Christian Science comes to one ready for the cleansing and evangelizing of human sense, and if that one then puts forth a sincere effort to change his methods of thinking, there is begun the character building which leads to harmony and health.

A young woman who had been greatly benefited by Christian Science treatment, but who had not seen the necessity for any transformation of thought, met with a severe injury to her eye. Through the fear of her relatives she was persuaded to return to the material way of treatment. After going to a specialist daily for eleven months and becoming completely discouraged, she said to him, "Why is it that I cannot get well?" He answered, "It is because of your disposition." When she asked him what he meant, he replied, "Do not feel so sorry for yourself." This made her think deeply. When she reached home she again took out her Bible and the Christian Science textbook, and her consciousness became filled with light. She saw so much within her thinking that needed to be overcome that she gave up the medical treatment and earnestly began to eradicate self-pity, self-will, impatience, and criticism. As these were eliminated, and replaced with thoughtfulness, humility, faith, patience, and love, the healing of the eye and several other troubles followed.

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