Editorial September 26, 1953 Issue

SPONTANEITY

Helen Wood Bauman

When one is governed by God, he expresses the spontaneity of Spirit. Christian Science shows one how to retain this spontaneity, this natural, joyous zest for life, or how to recapture it if one's human lot has seemed to beat down his faith in good and his desire to revive. This Science reveals man as Spirit's inseparable reflection, the embodiment of its irrepressible energies. It is, in fact, the law of God, which not only holds man in this eternal relationship with his source, but demonstrates that relationship to human sense, thus imparting to one who is receptive the constant refreshment of inspiration and spiritual strength.

When we understand our real self to be God's emanation, we cherish our actual unity with our Maker. We guard our present joy and lively interest in spiritual things as precious treasures, because we know that their presence in our hearts is proof that we are demonstrating our real manhood. Then, if we find our joy in reality lessening because of the behavior of mortals or the turn of human affairs, because of sickness or the impositions of sin, we are quick to defend our true state of mind and to resist evil's depredations. Our knowledge that we are in reality Spirit's reflection, rather than the sometimes depressed mortals we seem to be, gives vitality to our spiritual activity. Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 262), "Starting from a higher standpoint, one rises spontaneously, even as light emits light without effort; for 'where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'"

Christ Jesus was never beaten down by the things that happened to him, because his heart was with his treasure. His life was progressive; his outlook was affirmative and assured of Spirit's supremacy. Because his standpoint was his knowledge of his sonship with God, he met error's resistance to Truth with genuine zest, never with reservations or fear. However, his temptation in the wilderness, his long night vigils, his struggle in Gethsemane, all imply that he did not maintain his positive state of mind without prayerful effort. It was out of the maturity of his own demonstrated spontaneity of Spirit that he could say to his disciples (Luke 6:22, 23): "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, ... for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven."

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