Article September 24, 1938 Issue

The Need for Humility

[Original article in German]

ELISABETH GARTEN

As the writer sat by the window one sunny autumn day studying the Bible Lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly, her eye fell upon a sunflower whose head was bowed with the weight of the rich seed.

Involuntarily the thought came to her: What an illustration of humility, which in deep gratitude lays its fruit at the feet of divine Love! In the summer the sunflower stood erect, its golden blossom turned to the sun. Its flowering head grew larger and larger, and the stem grew higher and stronger, until it was strong enough to withstand a severe storm. Now it stood bending under its rich burden, and had it not been firmly rooted it could not have carried the treasure.

Christian Science enables us to stand firm in our knowledge of true spiritual qualities. Through this Science we gain a firm hold on God, on reality, and thus it is possible for our understanding of Truth to bear fruit a hundredfold without allowing ourselves to be caught by presumption or pride. All who have the privilege of co-operating in the Cause of Christian Science need to express humility, strength, and loyalty. Firmly rooted in the understanding of the all-power and all-presence of God, strengthened and developed through experience, bringing forth rich fruit in the vineyard of God, they should grow in humility, with their gaze held steadfastly to the light of Truth. Mrs. Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 356), "Humility is lens and prism to the understanding of Mind-healing; it must be had to understand our textbook; it is indispensable to personal growth, and points out the chart of its divine Principle and rule of practice." Yet how often men, lacking the true knowledge of God, seem to let themselves be deluded by personal sense. How often pride presumes to be in the place where humility belongs!

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