Article May 2, 1942 Issue

Serenity

AUDREY H. BUTTERWORTH

The word "serene" in Webster's dictionary is defined in part as "shining with clear, steady light." And in the midst of the occultism, necromancy, hypnotism with which mortal mind would darken perception, serenity is a quality of inestimable value. Expressed by those who have attained this quality, as the result of spiritual understanding, its potency nullifies the darkness, and its light shines with the resplendence which reveals the presence of God. No greater contribution can be made to the establishing of peace on earth than letting the light of true spiritual serenity shine, feeding it continually with the oil of inspiration, tending it, and seeing that never a breath of doubt or discouragement, or a lack of balance through fear, can cause it to flicker or appear less bright.

In referring to the period of the advent of Christ Jesus, Mary Baker Eddy says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 162): "From this dazzling, God-crowned summit, the Nazarene stepped suddenly before the people and their schools of philosophy; Gnostic, Epicurean, and Stoic. He must stem these rising angry elements, and walk serenely over their fretted, foaming billows." It was indeed with serenity that Jesus stepped forth, passing right over and yet amidst the vicissitudes of human existence, uplifting, supporting, healing, comforting, raising the dead; and it is now with the same purpose, and with humble desire, that Christian Scientists are endeavoring to obey Jesus' command "Go, and do thou likewise."

With the suggestion before us of one form or another of dictatorship and of various types of human personalities, expressing strength or lack of strength, integrity or lack of integrity, vision or lack of vision, governing and controlling the destinies of millions, it is well to remember that Jesus' influence on the world is the greatest that has ever been experienced, and yet he stated, "I can of mine own self do nothing;" and again, "The Father that dwelleth in me he doeth the works." He discredited so completely the so-called power wielded by human personality that there was nothing of materiality to obstruct his demonstration of spiritual being. From the basis of Mind, Jesus proved that his true selfhood was the expression of God and the inevitable outcome of this realization was health and harmony, displacing discord and dismay.

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