Article December 17, 1990 Issue

Looking up to Christ from down on your knees

Often the only thing standing between us and our neighbor is pride. Humility opens the way for affection.

Craig Luedeman

Seven or eight people were standing in line, each hoping the elderly woman who was at the same time struggling to adjust her clothing and pay for her shoes, would hurry up so they could get on with their Christmas shopping. The woman, frail and obviously aware of their impatience, kept tucking the bottom of her orange sweatpants, which served as long underwear, up under her outer navy blue pants only to watch them fall down again. She repeated this ritual several times, first one leg, then the other. Then one woman in the line behind her stepped forward. Without asking, she knelt down, carefully folded the sweatpants several times, pulled the outer garment down over them, and returned to her place in line. The elderly woman, clearly touched by this act of kindness coming from a total stranger, turned to her and said repeatedly, "Bless your heart." Then she quickly completed the transaction and left the store.

To the casual observer this incident might represent a curious, albeit bright spot in an otherwise ordinary day. Or it could give rise to some restored hope in human nature. In my case, it served as a catalyst in understanding more of the spiritual basis of loving our fellowman as revealed in the Bible and the teachings of Christian Science.

The Biblical account of creation recorded in the first chapter of Genesis proclaims man to be God's image and likeness. He is "very good," the zenith of creation, possessing dominion over all the earth. Christian Science teaches that this Godlike man is the true selfhood of everyone, spiritually reflecting the perfect goodness of God, his Father-Mother.

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December 17, 1990
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