Article February 26, 1944 Issue

Genuine Sympathy

LIONEL A. HARTSHORNE

How often we hear the remark, "Oh, I do sympathize with him for he certainly does seem to be having a hard time." While it would indeed be a poor heart that did not feel compassion for his brother and the desire to help him, yet too often such a remark brings before the thought a picture of a mortal overwhelmed by the relentless forces of mortal mind over which he seems to have little or no control. Sympathizing in this way can only serve to bind more heavily the load already resting upon the overburdened one.

Turning, as we are taught in Christian Science, to God and His idea for the solution of this problem, we read on page 102 of "Miscellaneous Writings" by Mary Baker Eddy, "The sympathy of His eternal Mind is fully expressed in divine Science, which blots out all our iniquities and heals all our diseases;" and she continues. "Human pity often brings pain." What we need, then, is true sympathy, "the sympathy of His eternal Mind," "fully expressed in divine Science."

This healing sympathy reveals itself to us in our dire need and stands out oftentimes most clearly in the darkest hours. Divine Science expressing infinite compassion and infinite tenderness, opens our eyes, which mere human pity would close, to the legions of angels encompassing one and all; brings relief from suffering; discloses to our widening vision new resources of available strength, courage, confidence, joy, and healing, new ways of lightening our burdens, new vistas of hitherto unsuspected means of service awaiting us. Thus is the mesmeric hold of error broken through true and fearless sympathy.

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