Article December 19, 1936 Issue

Friendship

MAVIS BLUE

Humanity's great need today is for the true idea of friendship, and that need will be met as every man, woman, and child awakens to allow the Christ-spirit to enter his consciousness. Everyone is familiar with the parable of the leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until eventually all was leavened; and the lesson is as applicable to friendship as it is to everything else. The task that should occupy our time and attention is the development of the right sense of friendship in ourselves, irrespective of the shortcomings and false concepts of those with whom we come in contact, for only thus can we echo Job's words, "I know that my redeemer liveth."

It is interesting to know that the word "friend" is taken from an Anglo-Saxon word which means "to love"; and the word "free" comes from a kindred root. Every improvement we individually gain in our own thinking regarding friend ship means love and freedom for ourselves; it also helps those of whom we think. The higher our sense of friendship is, the more beautiful will be the expression of this ideal in our own actions and lives. Solomon said, "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly."

Christ Jesus' idea of friendship certainly brought love and freedom to others. His thought was unerring and immutable, because he understood divine Principle, Love; and this enabled him to heal the sick, raise the dead—cast out all evil beliefs with scientific certainty. It is recorded of him that he said to his disciples, "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." What a beautiful exemplification of Love, showing the Master's wonderful sense of friendship, which led him to share with his disciples the glorious truths revealed to him by the Father! It was also a clear indication of his recognition of the mental freedom was disciples had gained from false beliefs through the true knowledge of God, and his perception of their elevation to higher realms of thought. The purport and purpose of his mission on earth was to free all mankind from the belief in life as material. Small wonder that he should be considered the world's best friend!

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