Article May 3, 1952 Issue

SEEKING AND FINDING TRUE FRIENDSHIP

GRACE R. WHITE

The warmhearted and affectionate individual beginning the study of Christian Science is often overjoyed at finding the outward expression of tenderness and love poured out to him through his newly discovered friendships and activities. He finds love expressed at the church services in the smiles of the ushers, in the graciousness of the Readers, the united responsiveness of the congregation, and in the greetings of friend to friend. He may find the tenderest expression of love in the office of a practitioner or in the unselfed ministry of a worker coming to his home in time of need. Surely this is a near approximation of heaven on earth, and a treasure to be cherished.

As the student grows in understanding, however, the demand will come to gain an ever-expanding concept of Love as divine, not human. This is a normal, natural step of progress and unfoldment, and should be welcomed into our experience with the same joy as any other evidence of healing. But sometimes a mistaken sense of affection and of good as being human, as well as the fear that some human good may be lost through our accepting the inexorable demand for a more spiritual sense of both goodness and love, tempts us to hesitate and hold back—and then, instead of experiencing a healing, we may seem to have a problem. The growth demanded is inescapable and wholly to be desired; the problem is only our own misapprehension of what is taking place in our experience. Let us learn how to accept it and so have no problems.

The beloved Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, whose great work for mankind included the revelation of God as the loving Mother as well as the Father of all, knew in her own experience the necessity of this progress from human love to divine Love. Out of her experience and with great love for us she gives us this tender message (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 266): "Would existence without personal friends be to you a blank? Then the time will come when you will be solitary, left without sympathy; but this seeming vacuum is already filled with divine Love. When this hour of development comes, even if you cling to a sense of personal joys, spiritual Love will force you to accept what best promotes your growth." And she concludes the paragraph, "Universal Love is the divine way in Christian Science."

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