Article June 24, 1985 Issue

Clouds with rain

GEOFFREY J. BARRATT

Clouds without rain may add some charm or drama to a landscape, or display a spectacular sunset. But they do nothing for a land of drought. Spiritual truths—those majestic, immortal truths of infinite God and man in His likeness—lacking the "rain" of proof, may have a certain beauty for us but do little to meet the needs of humanity.

The actual demonstration of the utility of Truth, God, in Christian Science is an essential element of the teaching and of its institutional expression in the Church of Christ, Scientist. "If Christian Science lacked the proof of its goodness and utility, it would destroy itself; for it rests alone on demonstration," Mrs. Eddy points out. "Its genius is right thinking and right acting, physical and moral harmony; and the secret of its success lies in supplying the universal need of better health and better men."^{ Miscellaneous Writings, p. 365.}

Sometimes we may be tempted to play down the importance of the demonstration of Truth. We may even have wondered whether it takes from the glory and purity of Truth—diminishes it—to "drag it down to earth and use it for human betterment." Such objections rather miss the point. One who truly feels the universality of divine Truth knows that Truth is already here, the only presence, the only power, insisting on manifesting itself. He knows that man is an immortal—that he is eternally Truth's witness. As we see this, it's natural, even inevitable, to accept that Truth's law is workable in human experience. Truth is either here and therefore usable, or absent and not only impractical but not divine.

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