Editorial February 1, 1969 Issue

Precious Moments

Alan A. Aylwin

Many a healing has come about through a momentary flash of spiritual inspiration, a glimpse of reality. This is always possible because disease is never what it seems. Although it appears to be materially functional or organic, it is actually the result of discordant thinking. It is a powerless, substanceless belief that a glimpse of God's power and presence and man's perfection as His spiritual expression can destroy. Mrs. Eddy writes, "The rays of infinite Truth, when gathered into the focus of ideas, bring light instantaneously, whereas a thousand years of human doctrines, hypotheses, and vague conjectures emit no such effulgence." ^{Science and Health, p. 504;}

However, the developed spirituality that makes possible the vision of God's allness is not always attained quickly or easily. Moments of spiritual realization must be earned. They are the outgrowth of consecrated preparation. Some progress must be made in the mastery of material sense and its false conception of man and the universe.

When Nicodemus came to talk with Christ Jesus, the Master said to him, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." ^{John 3:3;} To be "born again," to penetrate the mesmeric mist called matter and see reality, one must strive to silence the selfishness and sensuality that obstruct his vision. Speaking of this radical change of outlook, Mrs. Eddy says: "The new birth is not the work of a moment. It begins with moments, and goes on with years; moments of surrender to God, of childlike trust and joyful adoption of good; moments of self-abnegation, self-consecration, heaven-born hope, and spiritual love." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 15;}