THE DREAM AND THE AWAKENING

The allness of God, Spirit, is made clear in the Scriptures. The First Commandment (Ex. 20:3 ), "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," points to God's allness and wholeness. The First Commandment is the basis of true being. It is the basis upon which all statements of divine metaphysics rest. Mary Baker Eddy writes in the. Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 269 ), "The categories of metaphysics rest on one basis, the divine Mind."

The belief that there is more than one Mind, more than one God, results in a belief in the separation of man from God and the suggestion that the brotherhood of man can be ruptured or destroyed. These errors of belief deny the presence and power of God and of His Christ, or divine manifestation.

The allegory of Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis uncovers the error of separation and its fatal consequences. In this allegory a so-called man named Adam is separated from God. This separation immediately produces fear. Man is believed to exist apart from God. Thus Adam accepts a false corporeal concept of God. and instead of God being the only creator. Adam believes himself a creator also.

The dream of separation from God continues without interruption; even the concept of creation is debased. The spiritual creation recorded in the first chapter of Genesis is renamed by Adam and, as the Scripture says (Gen. 2:19 ), "whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof."

Error next suggests a sense of incompleteness in Adam, for we read that finding no helpmeet for him, the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and woman was made from his rib. We now have a dream of man separated from God, creation renamed by Adam, and woman separated from man. These are some of the downward steps introduced in the allegory of the material sense of life, substance, and intelligence. But the climax is not reached. The dream grows in intensity as it nears its doom. Another error is introduced. Sin appears in the form of a talking serpent, through which the Lord God appears to clinch the separation of man from God. The path is downward all the way. Cain, the offspring of Adam, rises up against his brother Abel. The separation of God and man moves to its climax in this breach of brotherhood which is followed by murder.

Turning from this dream world in which separation seems to appear, we are relieved to awaken to the truth of being as stated in the first chapter of Genesis and as expounded in Christian Science, namely that there is one God, good, one creation, the spiritual, one unity embracing all men and nations, one eternal Spirit brooding over all and perfectly governing man. St. Paul states the case clearly when he writes (Eph. 4:4-6 ), "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

We cannot hope to come to a correct conclusion on any question unless we start with a correct premise. If our outlook on life is based on the Adam-dream of separation, the conclusions which come from that viewpoint may result in disagreement, ruptured relationships, disease, sin, and death.

When we awaken from a dream, we realize it never happened. The Adam-dream may appear to define a mortal's origin and dictate his history. But this origin and history are not true, for a dream is a figment of imagination and not the truth of being. Man is never separated from God. His origin is Spirit; his existence is spiritual. He is satisfied and in complete agreement with his Maker.

Even the ferocious beast which a mortal pursues and slaughters is nothing but the product of the Adam-dream. It is not God's idea. The real creation is typified by Isaiah, who wrote (11:6 ), "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them."

Can we become worshipers of the one God? Can we leave the dream of life in matter and enter the kingdom of heaven, the conscious knowledge of life in Spirit? It is possible to be partially awake in a dream. We may still seem to be in a material world while demonstrating in some degree our inseparability from Spirit.

Undoubtedly there are degrees of awakening. But let one accept the desirability and practicability of ending the dream, and a spiritual awakening takes place. This awakening is seen in more unity with God, good, in improved health, harmony, and happy human relationships.

As we cling to the one Mind and the true brotherhood of man, we shall recognize the universe of Spirit and reflect the health and happiness which are the gifts of the Father-Mother God, the Parent and preserver of man. Mrs. Eddy says (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 339 ), "Only those who have not the Christ, Truth, within them should wear sackcloth." The Christ is God's divine manifestation. Whatever leads us to Christlike thinking and living is a gentle touch from the Redeemer's hand. The Christ is speaking to the dreamer today in the words of the prophet (Isa. 60: 1 ), "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee."