Article June 2, 1934 Issue

"Oh, I see!"

LESLIE BURN ANDREAE

How often do we hear the exclamation of surprised joy, "Oh, I see!" when, all at once, one grasps the inner meaning of some incident. What does he see? Is it something materially tangible? No. Nevertheless, the fresh vision is mentally tangible to him, and brings him increased understanding and with it much happiness.

Christian Scientists are constantly experiencing that kind of mental "seeing," and doing so with joy and gratitude, because Christian Science teaches them how to go beyond the merely material meaning of words and incidents and discern their deeper, spiritual significance. Especially is this the case in reading and studying the Bible. They know from experience that when the spiritual meaning of a verse or incident in the Bible illumines their thought so that they clearly realize its spiritual import and can say, "Oh, I see!" this brings them healing of some kind, because they are conforming to the law of enlightenment to which Christ Jesus referred when he said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." And this ability to see or know the true meaning of the Scriptures, which Christian Scientists are constantly developing, serves to illumine and clarify many passages that may appear obscure and contradictory until their deeper meaning is understood.

As an illustration of how this spiritual illumination works, there is offered an experience of a student of Christian Science. He had been reading in John's Gospel the account of the taking of Jesus in the garden by the soldiers, and had been picturing the scene—the dignified, loving, and patient Master rudely and roughly accosted by the soldiers. It is related that "as soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground." What a dramatic scene! The student visualized the soldiers cowering before the simple dignity and majesty of the Master's words and presence. Soon after this, the student was trying to conquer resentment and wounded pride. His good had been evil spoken of, and this verse and the scene it portrayed came back to him; and gradually its deep spiritual significance opened to his thought. He saw the Master standing as no other had ever stood for the truth; he saw the soldiers as being used by erroneous beliefs which would attempt to attack and take hold of the representative of Truth; and he knew from Mrs. Eddy's teachings in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" that "ground and dust stand for nothingness" (p. 537). And then he realized why the soldiers had gone backward and fallen to the ground. As Truth announces itself through its witnesses, nothing erroneous can withstand its omnipotence, nothing harmful can live in its presence. So when the student clearly saw and realized this, he found there was nothing left in his consciousness of the beliefs of resentment and wounded pride. They had gone to the ground, or "nothingness," and he was made free by "seeing" or knowing the truth, as Jesus promised.

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