"Consult thy every-day life"

Violet Ker Seymer

Our one aim as students of Christian Science is to obey the demonstrable admonition, "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and . . . put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." In order to carry on this undivided aim, we must watch the tenor of our thoughts so that our daily life may yield rich spiritual fruitage for humanity. Self-indulgent ease must be guarded against. Also the contagious tendency to fritter away time rather than utilize it zealously. No student of Christian Science would deliberately choose to do wrong. But he may need to forestall the undue encroachments of timeand thought-absorbing hobbies and pastimes. In "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 119), "The nature of the individual, more stubborn than the circumstance, will always be found arguing for itself, —its habits, tastes, and indulgences." When the beauty and utility of spiritual growth are given first place in our thoughts, all legitimate occupations and recreations fall into line with spiritual progress, the law of God.

Are we always watchful as to the use we are making of what is called leisure time? Is our heart hungry above all else for the pure consciousness which awakens, comforts, and heals? Are we obeying the ever-increasing demands which Christian Science makes on us for individual demonstration of Truth's dominion over sin, sickness, and death? Our Leader writes (Message to The Mother Church for 1902, p. 17): "Conscious worth satisfies the hungry heart, and nothing else can. Consult thy every-day life; take its answer as to thy aims, motives, fondest purposes, and this oracle of years will put to flight all care for the world's soft flattery or its frown." Do we face with moral courage and spiritual poise the worldling's scorn of one who leads a consecrated and temperate daily life? Are we proof against the flattery of personality?

When the more acute phases of evil have been measurably overcome through Christian Science, its more subtly disguised suggestions need to be faced, lest we drift into allowing the beauty of spiritual being to be overshadowed by transient interests. Especially may those who have actively served the Cause of Christian Science for many years, and now have fewer outward duties to perform for the church, need to keep before them the necessity for unflagging spiritual growth and increasing demonstration of the omnipotence of good in the face of the claims of material sense. There is no lukewarmness in the consciousness of the true church member, for he heeds the admonition which holds good in our movement today, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

It is profitable to watch day by day the proportion of time we are giving to bringing into evidence the spiritual facts of righteousness, health, intelligence, wisdom, and lovingkindness. All students of Christian Science will agree that no satisfaction is comparable with the heavenly joy of proving for oneself and others the power of Christian Science to establish health in place of disease, godliness in place of sinfulness, and selfless joy in place of sorrow and satiety.

Referring, no doubt, to the invitation to the feast spoken of by Christ Jesus, our Leader writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 130): "When all men are bidden to the feast, the excuses come. One has a farm, another has merchandise, and therefore they cannot accept." Devotion to divine Principle rules out all such excuses. We can carry on a profession conscientiously without allowing it to impede our spiritual growth. Our expression of divine Love is independent of age, location, or circumstances. As this expression is constantly multiplied in the spiritual activity of our own true consciousness, the law of spiritual attraction provides opportunities for the high service to God and man which every obedient heart perceives and obeys. No human event, environment, or claim of advancing years can prevent one who is undivided in his quest after righteousness from rising daily to greater heights of spiritual understanding and dominion. The true thinker at all points is not "a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work." As such, he cannot help demonstrating the harmony of being for himself and others.

Not where we live, but how we live, is the vital question. Multitudes followed Christ Jesus into desert places, and his disciples healed the sick in the villages through which they passed with loving intent. Whether our lines lie in crowded cities or in sparsely settled country, the opportunity is always with us to express the healing power of divine Principle in our thoughts and lives. Everywhere there is the demand for a fuller reflection of universal Love shown in tender consideration for the human need.

The student of Christian Science who is daily adding to his understanding of divine Principle and letting his light shine, does not hesitate to consult his everyday life, for he finds there mounting evidence of the supremacy of God, good.

Violet Ker Seymer

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

Immutable Truth

September 11, 1937

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit