Editorial April 12, 1982 Issue

In the presence of love—freedom

BEULAH M. ROEGGE

One can always tell when he is in the presence of real love. He feels free to be himself. This is because in spiritual reality, truth and love are inseparable aspects of God's nature. (In Christian Science when these words are capitalized, they are synonymous names for God.) An inevitable sequence of living Christ Jesus' promise "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free"^{John 8:32.} is finding love. Because Truth is Love, in the presence of Truth reflected in human consciousness there also is love—understanding, forgiving when needed, discovering and commending the good in one another.

The more of Truth we apprehend, the more love we feel and express, and the less frequently we find callous, unhelpful criticism in our thought and on our lips. Nagging criticism that doesn't help anyone creeps in where little love is being expressed; it is the opposite of a natural, warm affection. But love, reflected from divine Love itself, will eventually fill all such voids. Often the way to release one's love is to seek the spiritual truth concerning what is going on.

"Church" is spiritually defined in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy as "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle."^{Science and Health, p. 583.} This points to the great practical value of the Church in our lives. Its solid spiritual reality is the substance of all genuine truth and love reflected on earth. Whether we realize it or not, it is God's Church, Principle motivated action, the structure of both Truth and Love, that forwards all genuine freedom.