Article October 1, 1984 Issue

The path worth taking

[Name withheld by request]

The joy that accompanies a healing in Christian Science is so much more than delight in restored physical normalcy. The joy, in fact, nearly always precedes an outward indication of improvement. It arises spontaneously when Christ, Truth's saving illumination, has dispelled from consciousness some shadow of mortal belief.

The world considers joy the appropriate reaction to some positive external event. And there's certainly nothing wrong with being happy when things turn out as we'd hoped. Of far greater merit, however, is joy based on faith, hope, spiritual discernment, and awakening. As anyone healed through Christian Science can attest, this kind of joy, not some fluctuating circumstance, is the event that really counts. And when outward signs conform to our inspired certainty of God's allness and love, calm gratitude rather than excitement is more often than not the response.

As a whole, the world regards illness as an annoying interruption to be combated on a material basis and endured until business as usual can be resumed. Mortal mind, blind to the mental origin of disease, determined to put off coming to grips with its fears, ignorance, and sinful tendencies, looks to matter for salvation, because matter is all it can see, feel, or touch. So widespread and deeply entrenched is this attitude that most of us unwittingly accept it as our own, but it is never more than an obstinate dismissal of God's, Mind's, power to heal, and is therefore wholly foreign to our true nature as God's child. Obedience to our spiritual "homing instincts" helps us to steer clear of whatever does not embody God's ministering love and guides us instead to the source of all true cure and comfort. It's then that we're ready to win the priceless blessing that is the only reality regarding any difficulty confronting us.

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The bird of faith
October 1, 1984
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