Article July 14, 1934 Issue

Turning Away from the Body

HAROLD C. LEWIS

Mortals, believing man to be material, anxiously examine the heart, lungs, pulse, and blood to determine the condition of their health. This habit of looking to the body seems very tenacious and, if not overcome, it will be a stumblingblock to the student of Christian Science. Still believing somewhat in the false theories of life and intelligence in matter, the student may declare the truth for himself, or have a treatment from a practitioner, and then, from habit, look to his body to see if the treatment is taking effect—much as one might apply a material remedy and watch to see what happens. If the patient is told not to watch physical symptoms, he may become confused and ask, Why? If this be the case, he needs to remember that Christian Science, differing from all other systems, insists on the fundamental truth that God is All-in-all, and that evil, disease included, is unreal. Therefore, having in every case declared this truth, he must consistently abide by this premise. To look to the material body for evidence of the true healing would be to admit the reality of matter and its so-called laws, and this attitude of thought would tend to build up rather than destroy the sense of disease or other discord.

In this connection a careful study of what our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, says about turning away from the body is helpful. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" she says (p. 261), "The effect of mortal mind on health and happiness is seen in this: If one turns away from the body with such absorbed interest as to forget it, the body experiences no pain." In this reference the words "absorbed interest" deserve careful consideration. They indicate that the one who is seeking healing in Christian Science should be so absorbed in the contemplation of spiritual truth that he forgets the physical body. Does this seem difficult? A little thought will reveal to us many occasions when we are so interested in something that for a time we practically forget the body.

Now, it is easier to look away from a certain thing if we turn our gaze to something else and hold it there. What, then, should absorb our interest? Is it not the truth about God and His creation, the real man and the real universe? God being infinite good, His creation, including man and the universe, partakes of His nature and is, as stated in Genesis, "very good." In Ecclesiastes we read, "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it." Nothing has ever been added to God's perfect spiritual creation, nor has anything ever been taken from it; therefore it remains forever intact in its perfect state. Matter and evil were never added to God's creation, nor were they ever a part of it; hence matter and evil do not exist in reality. This truth, rather than seeming physical conditions, should occupy our attention.

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