Article October 8, 1949 Issue

LAYING HOLD ON REALITY

CLAUDE WALLACE WOODRUFF

"When faced with a difficult or unsolved problem each one might well ask himself, "Do I apprehend reality?" If the answer is "Yes," we may be sure that the problem is well on the road to solution. In order to be sure, however, that the answer is "Yes," we must first have looked deep into reality, into the truth of being as Christian Science reveals it, and must have in a measure assimilated this truth.

A fact of being needs to be apprehended, not merely admired. We must lay hold upon the spiritual fact, then hold on to it. Merely to acknowledge it as beautiful and grand is not enough. Apples in a basket may be beautiful, but they will give us no nourishment until we eat them. To say that man is the image and likeness of God is true. But however true, however lovely, a statement may be, it needs to be apprehended and taken into our consciousness before it becomes our very own.

Paul used the word "apprehend" in directing his students toward the attainment of perfection. Here are his words (Phil. 3:12): "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." He undoubtedly meant that while the Christ, Truth, embraced him in the true sense of his being, he, the human Paul, had constantly to endeavor to lay hold of the elements constituting the Christ. Then follows what seems an overmodest appraisal of his own progress: "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." In other words, in order to realize what we are as the sons of God, we must begin by forgetting the mortal past with its fears, sins, and seeming limitations and assiduously press forward toward the high goal of perfection in Christ by apprehending the facts of being.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
GOD'S PERFECT DAY
October 8, 1949
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit