Article November 1, 1941 Issue

Taking Away "the trammels"

HENRY K. TURNBULL

A Christian Science nurse formed the habit of saying under trying conditions, "Thank You, Father." No critical, irritable thought of what might seem lack of appreciation was entertained, but only the duty of thanking God for His loving-kindness. It was a simple, grateful affirmation of God's presence, a confident approach to Him as our only real Parent, the Healer of all discord. Mary Baker Eddy says in "Rudimental Divine Science" (p. 2): "Science defines the individuality of God as supreme good, Life, Truth, Love. This term enlarges our sense of Deity, takes away the trammels assigned to God by finite thought, and introduces us to higher definitions."Giving the subject even brief consideration must make it clear that the all-powerful, all-knowing, present divine Mind, whom we call God, could not be subject to another power, nor be influenced, limited, hindered, or impeded in His infinite activity. It is the finite thought about God that is wrong. Accepting limited, mistaken concepts about Him leads to error and limitation in experience. God, supreme good, is untrammeled, infinite divine consciousness.

The prophet Isaiah represented God as showing His readiness and willingness to help His children in the assurance, "Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." We can remember this promise when difficulties confront us, and say, "Thank You, Father." When discords arise, and resentment, anger, hatred appear to hinder our progress, we can still say, "Thank You, Father," knowing that through prayerful turning of our thought to God these inharmonies can be seen as phases of human ignorance and destroyed. Despite appearances, they have no spiritual origin, no reality in Science, no power to harass or dismay.

A sense of impediment often takes the form of belief in lack of supply, a particular mesmerism against which students of Christian Science must guard themselves, repudiating malicious suggestions that the patient, tender, loving Father of all is, or could be, responsible for human distress. No situation need be despaired of if we fully trust in God. If error suggests that the situation seems hopeless and nothing more can be done, we can yet cling steadfastly to the confidence gained in Christian Science that there is no problem beyond the power of divine Truth to solve. Ever-operative Mind knows no problems, but is unfolding its ideas without interruption. It is always efficacious to pray humbly, understandingly, assured that in His all-embracing love He gives all good to His children. Through scientific right thinking we claim our spiritual inheritance of good, our heirship to a God-given affluence which cannot fluctuate or diminish.

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