Article February 29, 1936 Issue

"No more strangers and foreigners"

MARIETTA K. HORNIMAN

With the thought of the world earnestly seeking peace in the midst of turmoil, hatred, and fear, does it not behoove each one of us to examine his attitude toward his brother and see wherein he may contribute to the bringing of peace on earth, good will to men? Are we faithfully trying to understand the meaning of Paul's words in his letter to the Ephesians, "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all"? Or are we looking upon the stranger from a land other than our own as a foreigner, and shutting him out of our thinking with indifference and prejudice, perhaps even entertaining thoughts of fear or contempt?

On page 467 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy has indicated the solution to all national and international problems in her statement: "It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love. Mankind will become perfect in proportion as this fact becomes apparent, war will cease and the true brotherhood of man will be established." From this we see that with God as the one Father there can be no one who does not belong to the family of divine Love. The life and activity of all are welded together in the one supreme and infinite Mind, God. Hence, our real interests are not separated or changed by locality, language, race, or color. As we individually claim our son-ship with divine Mind and recognize that Mind is the source of our life and activity, of necessity there follows the true appreciation of our brother's life, interests, and activity. When we see that all, in a united brotherhood, belong to the wholeness of God's kingdom, we realize that Paul's words, "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God," show the vital spirit of practical Christianity.

A Christian Scientist, traveling from America to a distant country to make her home, found upon leaving the last American port that she was practically the only one of her countrymen on board, and that she was being called a foreigner. This rather startled her as she realized that in the country to which she was going she would be considered a foreigner, and the connotation was not altogether pleasing. She began to ponder her own use of the word and her thought of the people whom she herself regarded as foreigners. She saw that the United States of America was comprised of people from many countries, and that these various nationalities had contributed towards its making, and towards the furtherance of those ideals for which it stood. With a deep sense of gratitude she realized what she owed to all the peoples who had given so liberally of their talent, labor, and courage. Overflowing love and appreciation replaced all resentment at being called a foreigner, and in the place of hurt pride and superiority was a new and deeper understanding of brotherly love, and a genuine interest in all mankind. Looking up the definition of "foreign" she found these words, "Not belonging to." She saw that in God's universe there can be no foreigners; for how can any one of God's ideas ever be in a position of not belonging to the creator, perfect Principle?

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

"No more strangers and foreigners"

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access