Article March 26, 1960 Issue

FROM HUMILIATION TO HUMILITY

MARGARET FLINT JACOBS

In the study of their companion textbooks, the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Christian Scientists often become greatly interested in the use of words; delicate shadings of meaning are a challenge to deeper study. The words "humiliation" and "humility," for instance, both grow from a common root and express closely related states of thought, yet they are far from synonymous.

Most of us have experienced humiliation; we have made mistakes, and our self-esteem has been sadly hurt. To the discomfort of remorse there may have been added an awareness of silent or audible comments by our associates. All this is hard to bear!

However, our textbooks lead the way out of such distress, and it is the way of prayer. Mrs. Eddy writes in "No and Yes" (p. 39): "Prayer can neither change God, nor bring His designs into mortal modes; but it can and does change our modes and our false sense of Life, Love, and Truth, uplifting us to Him. Such prayer humiliates, purifies, and quickens activity, in the direction that is unerring." Through prayer we can put off false pride and the arrogance of human will and in humility begin to correct our mistakes.

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