The Hearts of Men Made Ready
"May God enable my students to take up the cross as I have done, and meet the pressing need of a proper preparation of heart to practise, teach, and live Christian Science!" In this deep, fervent prayer (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 115 ), Mary Baker Eddy stirs the thought of the student of Christian Science. In these times, when zealous efforts are being made toward material preparedness to combat the so-called forces of evil that seem rampant, what a glorious challenge is this prayer!
It is especially to be noted that Mrs. Eddy asks that God enable her students to "take up the cross" as she had done and "meet the pressing need of a proper preparation of heart." How nobly, and with what fortitude, this brave woman took up her cross, oftentimes struggling alone with its weight along the way; and how patiently and confidently she had prepared her heart to receive the great revelation that is daily, hourly, blessing mankind throughout the world—the revelation of divine Science! This taking up of the cross and preparation of the heart to receive the good which God bestows, is exemplified in the life of the revered Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.
The taking up of the cross is a first step towards the preparation of the heart. Students of this Science learn that it means, among other things, detecting the false argument of material sense, denying its seeming manifestation or potency, and effacing it by the conviction and acknowledgment of man's God-given dominion over all the earth. "Praise Him, praise Him," a familiar hymn repeatedly admonishes; and when thought is consecrated to Truth, we know the joy of praising God constantly, for while we are praising God we cannot be tempted to dishonor Him by belief in another power.
In the sacred moment of apprehension of the Christ in one's consciousness, the mists and dreams of sense, suffering, and lack fade into nothingness in the radiant light of Truth. The difficulty with which one seems to be confronted offers a priceless opportunity to discover more of Truth, a steppingstone to a more exalted understanding of spiritual substance and eternal life. Another cannot carry the cross that is one's own to bear until the heart has been made ready to receive the glorious comfort of a recognition of one's unity with his divine source. This is his at-one-ment with his loving Father-Mother, when he stands upon the heights free and pure and beautiful, ready to carry on the activity that is his primal and ultimate reason for being—the expression and glorification of God. Here is his high goal, here his lofty, joyous incentive to work, rejecting evil suggestions—to work undaunted and unafraid. There is no moment when Love is less than supreme. Thus is each one not only working out his individual salvation through this spiritual recognition, but as his realization of his true and perfect selfhood grows clearer, all mankind is proportionably blessed and brought into closer unity with divine reality. How grateful is every loyal Christian Scientist for such opportunities to demonstrate what Truth is and what it does for mankind!
A vital step towards the full preparation of the heart is the expectancy of and constant readiness to receive good. There is a story told of Hudson Taylor, the renowned missionary, which well illustrates this point. He found himself at one time aboard a sailing vessel that was becalmed off the Cannibal Islands. When the captain asked Taylor if he would pray for wind, the missionary replied that he would do so if the captain would set his sails ready to catch the breeze. The captain demurred, on the ground that his men would laugh at such a ridiculous gesture. The missionary stood firm, however, until the captain agreed to make ready the sails. After a short time he sought the missionary in his cabin, interrupting his prayers to tell him that no further supplication was necessary, as they were under way with all the wind they needed. Preparation of and expectation in the heart mean loosing the bonds of fear, of enslavement to belief in the power of aggressive mental suggestion, in whatever guise, to prevail over the mighty law of God, and opening thought to receive healing and inspiration.
Solomon said, "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord." The truth of this statement is apparent to those who are willing to obey Love's mandate, and to set about ridding thought of false beliefs of sickness, grief, lack, sin, envy, uncertainty, or any of the delusive suggestions of mortal mind. Watchfulness to keep one's thinking filled with beautiful, pure, and Godlike thoughts precludes and excludes the erroneous suggestions of mortal mind. Nor is there any evil so-called mind or minds to suggest, "You are sick; you are poor; you are mentally depressed." According to divine Science, error must by its own admission annihilate its false suggestions. Man does not stand alone, a corporeal, fearful mortal, looking off to a far, hoped-for selfhood that beckons always just beyond his reach. Man, the divine idea of God, is present and forever expresses perfect, immortal, joyous being. This is the only man, rich in the goodness, affluence, beauty, and strength which reflect God, who is All.
Referring again to the preparation of the heart, Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 131 ), "As aforetime, the spirit of the Christ, which taketh away the ceremonies and doctrines of men, is not accepted until the hearts of men are made ready for it." The acceptance of "the spirit of the Christ" is necessary for the obliteration of that which does not emanate from God. Surely we desire this conscious unity with God, the realization that man never has been and never can be separated from God, his all-harmonious divine source. Let us, then, not delay this sacred, joyous preparation and the glory of its rich fruition. The preparation is simple and beautiful. It is knowing that where there seems to be a tortuous, dreary road to climb, there is in reality only the sweetest rest; that where there seems to be a turbulent, threatening, and engulfing sea, there is in reality only the pure water of Life; that where there seem to be alluring highways and byways that tempt uncertain footsteps, there is in reality only the hallowed path of righteousness, where man walks with his divine Father-Mother God.
When "the preparations of the heart... and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord," we find our eternal dwelling place in the consciousness of all-harmonious Love; and, finding this, we realize with joy and gratitude that in our true selfhood we have always dwelt in that sacred home, because there is nothing outside of infinity, the divine All.
