Article May 5, 1986 Issue

The world, and what really helps

GEOFFREY J. BARRATT

Anyone at all well-informed is aware that the world has its problems; this awareness, accompanied by good will, means that the individual longs to do something to help. But what? World affairs and their complexities can seem so overwhelming at times that we may sag into helplessness. We don't need to, and mustn't.

The power of spiritual reasoning or prayer should never be undervalued. And the most potent prayer is that which starts in the best place: with God and His eternal universe, including spiritual man, created in His likeness. "For right reasoning," Mrs. Eddy makes plain, "there should be but one fact before the thought, namely, spiritual existence. In reality there is no other existence, since Life cannot be united to its unlikeness, mortality."Science and Health, p. 492. To resolve to reason rightly, and to act in accord with such prayer, are the soundest policy anyone can adopt.

To standard common sense, expecting to lessen international tensions through prayer may seem a puny approach. After all, aren't the first needs for renegotiated treaties, more armaments, a search for allies? The spiritual approach is, however, uncommonly sensible. God, Love, alone is the real source of all power and intelligence. From divine Love alone can come the spirit of brotherhood that will diminish mankind's woes. When we pray understandingly, we are turning to the single reliable source of ultimate solutions. The redistribution of national power and influence, if based solely on mortal reasoning and judgment, can never of itself be the road to durable peace.

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