"Shepherd, show me how to go"

KATHRYN J. BAKER

"The great Shepherd, Love, softens the heart with understanding"

As one becomes conscious of the great love of God for His creation, he enjoys an ever-growing assurance that divine Love is always with him, guiding and protecting him, removing error from human thought.

Because of difficult human relations with one dear to her, the writer had felt for some time that she was retrogressing in her demonstration of Christian Science. Error faced her and other members of the family at every turn where this one was concerned. And since the writer was accepting this evidence as true, her efforts to maintain harmony in her thinking failed.

For a long time the problem grew worse, and she sank deeper into despair. Many times during the darkest hours she found it necessary to ask for help from a Christian Science practitioner.

One night in tears she very humbly and earnestly began to study Mrs. Eddy's poem "'Feed My Sheep'" (Poems, p. 14), which begins with these words:

"Shepherd, show me how to go
O'er the hillside steep,
How to gather, how to sow,—
How to feed Thy sheep."

The first line, "Shepherd, show me how to go," became her earnest prayer. Her thought received new inspiration, and instead of condemnation, criticism of herself and others, anger, hurt, and fear, she felt renewed hope and strength.

The inharmony gradually disappeared as the error gave way to the understanding of man as God's beloved son, in whom He is well pleased. The Christ, that is, the spiritual idea of sonship, is always able to lift mankind out of mortal ways. But diligence is needed if one is to look beyond the mortal to see man in God's true likeness.

Often a problem seems insurmountable. The way may appear so steep and rugged that the student doubts whether he has the strength or the ability to climb upward; yet the Shepherd is at hand to lead the way.

Our first step is to exchange the doubts and fears of mortal mind for the truth that God is All and that man, the only true man, is the idea of Mind, spiritual, pure, and perfect.

A keen alertness makes the thought receptive to the message of the divine will. It is important to recognize that divine Mind never gave activity to stubbornness, self-will, or insubordination. The great Shepherd, Love, softens the heart with understanding. It is also important to see that impatience, a false sense of responsibility, and harshness do not steal away one's calmness, gentleness, and trust. Complete trust is indispensable in healing.

Should the student find himself stumbling over the rocks in his path, he has the God-given ability to turn these stumbling blocks into stepping-stones to higher views of the world in which lie lives.

The Scientist does not condone erroneous ways. He refuses to attach error to himself or to those he calls his; rather, does he look to God to find man's true selfhood or individuality as the reflection of God. He can be sure when he turns to the Father for wisdom that his judgment will be sound.

An awareness of the presence of God, divine Principle, breaks the bonds of ease in matter, wakens the desire to be mentally active, and changes the sense of rest from one of mortal inactivity or stupid idleness to one of spiritual peace. A consciousness filled with Truth is not acquainted with "the unfruitful works of darkness" (Eph. 5:11) and labors unhindered by mortal sense.

If ever the light of understanding seems dimmed by some severe human experience and one feels out of sight of the Shepherd, these words of Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health will strengthen and lend courage (p.22): "If your endeavors are beset by fearful odds, and you receive no present reward, go not back to error, nor become a sluggard in the race."

The tender Shepherd is ready to help us through the fog of illusion into the spiritual realm of Life. When we daily seek God's directing and purify our thoughts, our human consciousness will become increasingly washed clean by Love.

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God's Precious Treasure

November 19, 1960

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