COMPASSION, NOT DISDAIN

Neera Kapur

Sometime ago, a family member called to say a very important letter had been sent by courier, and I should receive it the next day. When it didn't come, I called the courier service and was told that it would arrive by a certain time. For several days, I continued to get this promise, but there was no sign of the letter.

In India, people say that once your letter has been misplaced by these courier services, you can forget about ever receiving it. Such cynicism certainly seemed justified, especially when the service finally confirmed that the letter was missing.

One definition of cynical is "disinclined to recognize goodness," and as I was thinking about this situation, it suddenly dawned on me that I was tempted to believe that in this situation, good could be absent or unrecognizable. I saw that this wasn't so much about my need to receive the letter as about my need to ask God to reveal His loving and wise nature, His pure character—about good being recognized. I affirmed that because good is from God, it is always in sight, never hidden or lost. I refused to let in thoughts of fear, doubt, or the possibility of mistakes. Instead I turned to God's power by maintaining that everyone who had anything to do with this letter was also encompassed in God's love, because the one divine Mind was guiding us all.

After I'd prayed, I felt I should visit the courier office. When I arrived, I have to admit that I was quite astounded for a moment at the sight of the mess. There were piles and piles of letters in bags all over the place. It looked as though it would be impossible to find anything in the chaos. But while I spoke with the people, I silently prayed to recognize God's presence and government right there. Then I returned home, still praying.

"Prayer," the very first chapter in Science and Health, is my starting point in any situation that depicts good as not possible or feasible. These words from that chapter challenge such evidence: "The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love" (p. 1).

As I thought some more about the situation in that office and the working conditions, my heart went out to the workers. Amazing as it may seem, I felt grateful rather than critical, and prayed to know that they could feel God's love and presence and guidance just as I could.

Within a short time, they found the letter and delivered it to me. This taught me how important it is for all of us to love each other and to support each other's endeavors to be Godlike. We really can feel the peace and calm we are created to feel, to see good everywhere and in each one. Cynicism is not here to stay; instead, Love will always win.

Neera Kapur
Bombay, India

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

The sweet road to recovery

January 10, 2005

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit