Cherish innocence
How Christ Jesus loved little children! They were brought to him, and he welcomed them and blessed them. The disciples, who revered their teacher, evidently expected he would not want to be bothered by these little ones. Yet he said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." Mark 10: 14 .
What was our Way-shower teaching? Was he not cherishing the children's innocence? Perhaps he was indicating that true innocence needs to be recognized and embraced before we can glimpse the kingdom of heaven, the goodness and presence of God?
It is important to cherish innocence. Let's take a look at how and why.
First, what is innocence? It is the purity, the total freedom from evil and guilt, that we tend to see most easily in little children. But is it expressed only by little children? Not at all! It is spiritually natural to you, and me, and each one of God's family.
In Christian Science we learn that the physical appearance of a person, whether young or old, kind or gruff, healthy or ill, is a mortal concept—sometimes pleasing, sometimes not—which we have accepted.
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer of Christian Science, writes in Science and Health, "Man is idea, the image, of Love; he is not physique." Science and Health, p. 475 .
The man of God's creating, the image of Love, includes every aspect of loveliness—purity, selflessness, holiness. He reflects every facet of childlike innocence: joy, integrity, delight, spontaneity, attraction to goodness. And he reflects those qualities now, here.
The source of all good, including innocence, is God; and what God has created exists forever. As His likeness, man fully expresses innocence and abounds in childlike joy. This goodness is Christlike and is man's true identity. It is through spiritual sense that we discern this Christlikeness in ourselves and in others.
But what about the past? We may feel that perhaps as very little children we were innocent. Perhaps we remember years of untarnished gladness. Then came tragic mistakes, the burden of responsibilities, the chains of day-to-day life and relationships that may now feel heavy. We lost innocency years ago, we think, and nothing can repair the hurts.
Yet we can be free, because true innocence is never lost. Think of the loveliness of a dazzlingly beautiful room that has had the shades drawn for many years. When we open the shades, light floods into this lovely room and reveals its pristine beauty. The light has not changed a dreary room into an exquisite one; it simply has revealed the room as it actually is.
When we humbly pray to God, the light of Christ, Truth, gently washes away whatever shadows—false concepts—would seem to darken our thought, and reveals that we are children of God, innocent and pure. The Christ brings to light the image and likeness of God. Through prayer, and Christian Science treatment, the burden of despair is lifted.
It is important to cherish our innocence. Whatever we cherish we nurture, we spend time thinking about, we work hard to keep in perfect condition. The understanding of innocence needs constant nurturing and tender love. When we cherish man's true innocence, we value prayer; we desire spirituality. And we become more consistent in turning away from whatever would pull our thought toward the sensual, apathetic, or worldly. Christ Jesus taught: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18:3 . But this conversion, this innocent loving and joyful living, is not selfish. Innocent, Christly loving is unselfed. It blesses our families and loved ones, our work, our churches, and all mankind.
Recognizing that the dear ones in our home and family are truly innocent as God's children, we can comfort the fretful baby, quiet turbulent yearnings, forgive selfishness. How our families and loved ones need such innocent love!
In branch churches our pure thought can attract the weary who long for Truth that does not condemn but comforts. Being pure-minded, we will not be drawn into cliques or criticism.
True innocence is not naivete. It reveals the presence of Christ, which can outshine any deviousness that might arise in our business affairs. It supports moral courage, wisdom, and spiritual power.
And in the wider community, how the world needs the innocence of the Christ ideal. Abuse of children, overt sensuality, the despair of war, challenges to family, economic, and political life— these can be alleviated through restoring the concept of man's basic innocence. Mrs. Eddy says: "Beloved children, the world has need of you,—and more as children than as men and women: it needs your innocence, unselfishness, faithful affection, uncontaminated lives. You need also to watch, and pray that you preserve these virtues unstained, and lose them not through contact with the world. What grander ambition is there than to maintain in yourselves what Jesus loved, and to know that your example, more than words, makes morals for mankind!" Miscellaneous Writings, p. 110 .
We can begin now to cherish innocence, put off material-mindedness, and view with compassion our worldwide family. As we pray for mankind, we will be fulfilling the commandment of Christ Jesus to love one another. We will see the childlike purity and innocence of our fellowman, and this will comfort and heal.
Laying aside all malice, and all guile,
and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
as newborn babes,
desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby.
I Peter 2:1, 2
