Article May 29, 1937 Issue

In Reality There Are No Little Things

ISRAEL PICKENS

In a study of the teachings of the Master, Christ Jesus, it is interesting and instructive to note how frequently he employed simple illustrations drawn from casual and commonplace human experience to emphasize some great and vital truth. He did not underestimate the value of little things. On the contrary, he taught and demonstrated their importance. For instance, he fed a multitude of people with only a few loaves and some small fishes. He saw the infinity of divine supply, and with this vision and understanding he disproved any belief of lack as evidenced by the small quantity of food that was apparently at hand. He used the little things with which to teach the larger lessons of spiritual understanding. He likened the kingdom of heaven to a grain of mustard seed, one of the smallest of all seeds, so bringing to human apprehension a vivid picture of the first beginnings of the divine light of revelation and spiritual harmony. The widow's mite looms in importance because the humble spirit of that gift accompanied it on its journey to bless and help others. The parable of the lost coin, illustrating a spiritual truth, showed that the latter was not a small thing when weighed in the balance of God. The lilies of the field, so simple in their spring vestments of loveliness and fragrance, are of greater import than the costly raiment of kings. Little children provided lessons for the Master's teachings as to innocence, meekness, and purity—qualities that are of utmost value and greatness.

The fact that in reality there are no little things may be seen in an incident, which occurred many years ago in a small New England community, that in our present day and time would scarcely find notice in our daily press. The incident itself was apparently unimportant. A woman slipped and fell on the ice and injured herself. Many likewise have, before and after this occurrence, had a similar experience. So in the little city where she lived this particular case might not afterwards have been known to any considerable number of people. But not so in this instance, for pure faith and an unswerving trust in God's power to heal, restored to health this woman whom a physician had said could not recover from the effects of the fall.

The Scriptures state that God is "of purer eyes than to behold evil," which is in accord with the declaration on page 424 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy that "accidents are unknown to God, or immortal Mind." Mrs. Eddy's falling was a phenomenon of mortal mind, not the reality of divine being. From that mortal seeming she turned. Looking away from the testimony of error and the so-called human senses, she glimpsed, though at that time only faintly, a measure of spiritual truth. Her faith ascended Godward. Here was the point of contact where the human consciousness became illumined with divine light. God, who is "of purer eyes than to behold evil," is ever present and was there present, reflected in her uplifted thought. Thus she became so aware of the reality and allness of God as to be completely freed from the belief of a fatal accident, and healing was made manifest.

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