Article July 10, 1995 Issue

Watching for, and casting out, the mental intruder

Lynn G. Jackson

One afternoon while I was watching one of our new cats sleeping in a flowerpot, I noticed another cat jump our fence. He slowly and quite confidently walked through the bushes, flipping his tail. He passed right by the flowerpot where our cat was snoozing and made his way to her food. After he'd eaten, he retraced his steps with his usual strut. What astonished me was that, at first, my cat slept through the intruder's advance! Then when she did wake up, even though the other cat was still in our yard, my cat just sat very still and watched. She didn't chase the intruder off; she didn't hiss or threaten. She allowed the other cat to do what he pleased without any attempt to protect her own space.

I asked myself, Are there times when I am not alert to an intruder—a mental intruder—some suggestion that God, good, is not All? If I do awake, do I allow the intruding thought to take up residence, devour my provision of spiritual inspiration, and come and go at will? Do I sit back passively, hoping it will go away and leave me alone? I quietly answered, Yes.

False suggestions come in many disguises. Some parade boisterously, claiming to be a severe challenge. Others would slide into consciousness unnoticed. Their intrusion doesn't always come because they are openly invited, but rather because one doesn't take the watchful stand to ward them off. They linger, often because one doesn't guard against them. No matter what their approach or disguise, however, they can be ruled out of consciousness when we see them for what they are: false beliefs in a power opposed to God, suggestions that would keep us from learning more of God and of our true nature as His reflection, thus keeping us from benefiting ourselves and others.

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Watching for, and casting out, the mental intruder

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