Article November 3, 1945 Issue

The Miracle of Unbroken Friendship

CATHERINE E. IRVINE

"There are no greater miracles known to earth than perfection and an unbroken friendship." These words of our beloved Leader Mary Baker Eddy, may be found on page 80 of her book "Retrospection and Introspection." True friendship is one of the priceless gifts of divine Love, and by reason of this fact all may have it. It is as impersonal as the sunshine and far more warming to the heart: and if we give of our friendship as impersonally and freely as the sunbeams give of their reflected light and warmth, we shall receive in like measure. Thus is friendship earned.

The qualities we enjoy and are seeking in others are those we must desire to express ourselves, for we naturally are at home with those whose interests are similar to ours. A false sense of possession, and its boon companions, criticism, domination, insubordination, jealousy, and mental manipulation, are the reverse of the qualities which make for genuine friendship, and must be cast out of consciousness before the true attraction of Spirit can be understood and recognized. Real friendship is governed by intelligence, which knows no self-seeking. Friendship is based not on personalities, but on spiritual qualities Wherever the qualities of divine Mind are consciously manifest, there is friendship.

Mere personal friendship falls short of the true and enduring sense of friendship. Separation is one of its pains. In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy tells us (p. 390), "Truth will at length compel us all to exchange the pleasures and pains of sense for the joys of Soul." Upon learning the freedom and unselfish joy of true friendship we are freed from any sense of separation from good or a sense of attraction to or by evil. Knowing the source of all true friendship to be God, we discover that no mortal holds our happiness in his hands, or has the power to give today and withhold tomorrow, thereby keeping us in an uncertain state of fluctuation between joy and sorrow. Jesus said (John 16:22), "Your joy no man taketh from you;" and also (Matt. 23:9), "Call no man your father upon the earth."

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Winning the Game
November 3, 1945
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