Article March 6, 1943 Issue

"God requireth that which is past"

NERINE B. GOBEN

Upon analyzing her thought, a student of Christian Science found that while she was rejoicing daily in the assurance of her present heritage as a child of God, she often turned back to dwell regretfully on the inharmony of childhood days. Much light was gained from a careful study of the fifteenth verse in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes: "That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past." One rendition of the word "requireth" is "seeketh again." The student earnestly pondered how God might seek again that which was past, and learned to acknowledge her blessings as continuous, including past as well as present ones. Just as one sometimes erroneously outlines a certain income as one's only source of supply, she found that she had been limiting her expectancy of affection and companionship to certain human relationships. So she went over the past and step by step replaced thoughts of anger with compassion, jealousy with love, and self-pity and discouragement with gratitude. Then a great burden of resentment which she had carried for years rolled away. And into her thought and experience, from unexpected sources, came the understanding love of which she had dreamed in her youth, but on a sweeter, higher basis of spiritual helpfulness than she had previously hoped for.

Let us not cling to past hurts, past misunderstandings and unhappiness. Into the darkened room, when the window shades are raised, pours the bright sunlight. Admitting the influx of light, we do not lament that while the shades were drawn the room was very dark indeed.

Daily rejoicing and daily recognition of God's ever-present kindness are invaluable. Gratitude and discouragement cannot abide simultaneously in our consciousness. We can be grateful for even the simple things of everyday life, such as the happy laughter of a little child at play, the faithful affection of a dog, the glow of a lingering sunset, little acts of courtesy from others. Thus we can learn to avoid bearing false witness to a so-called mortal past, for it vanishes in the glorious light of ever-present Love.

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