Editorial January 13, 1934 Issue

The Value of Aloneness

Violet Ker Seymer

Mortal mind troubles itself on the question of companionship, now yearning for someone who is absent, now fretting to be rid of someone who is present. Vainly trying to escape from itself and from its morbid thought-processes, it is prone to seek the crowd rather than seclusion. In all cases Paul's mandate stands: "Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another."

It is in hushed solitude, obedient listening, that human thought draws nearer to God, to divine reality. The prodigal was alone when the voice of Truth, awakening him to the value of true sonship, turned his thoughts homeward, heavenward. The new birth is a sacred and solitary experience. The value of aloneness, hallowed by teachableness, was also evident in the change of thought that came to Elijah in the cave, and to Jacob by the ford Jabbok. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was alone when to her pure consciousness came Gabriel, Love's messenger, foretelling the birth of the holy child. And Mrs. Eddy was alone during that healing experience which brought to her the revelation of Christian Science, further light on the Scriptures, and so led on to the establishment of our Cause.

No human intermediary is needed for communion with Christ, Truth, for the "vail is done away in Christ." In uplifted moments, the Christ is heard knocking at the door of human consciousness, calling on each individual to take a pure, firm stand for sonship, as did the prodigal. Sooner or later spiritual light illumines the searching heart, persevering in its quest for primal holiness. In aloneness with God holy thoughts teach us how to pray and how to hear the answer to our prayer.

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