Take a spiritual walk

At a time when people are focused on getting exercise more than ever before, walking is still considered one of the best ways of staying in shape. What if walking took on a spiritual dimension of following paths that lead to understanding God, Truth? What would be required? How do we find such a “path”? This week’s Bible Lesson on “Truth” explains how.

Section I is like a training coach instructing us how we take this spiritual “walk": by understanding our Truth-endowed ability to turn away from darkness. The Psalmist said it this way: “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in the way” (Psalms 119:37 , citation 3). Mary Baker Eddy, echoing the same “turning away,” reinforces the Psalm with: “Truth and Love enlighten the understanding, in whose ‘light shall we see light;’ and this illumination is reflected spiritually by all who walk in the light and turn away from a false material sense” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 510 , cit. 2).

Another requirement for finding Truth is in the story of King David’s son by Bathsheba, Solomon, who prayed for an understanding heart and discernment so he could meet his kingly responsibilities. Describing himself as “a little child” (I Kings 3:7 , cit. 7) reveals deep humility, since this Hebrew term was often used by someone who lacked experience in their profession. 

Science and Health illumines the spiritual discernment resulting from such humility and the vital distinction that has to be made to bring the wisdom leaders need: “The mortal, erring, and finite are human beliefs, which apportion to themselves a task impossible for them, that of distinguishing between the false and the true” (Science and Health, pp. 505–506 , cit. 10).

Solomon’s creative problem-solving skills, grounded in divine justice, are displayed when two women argue over an infant’s proper parentage (see I Kings 3, cit. 12). His prayer for an understanding heart is answered as human justice, mirroring the divine. “Let Truth uncover and destroy error in God’s own way, and let human justice pattern the divine” (Science and Health, p. 542 , cit. 12).

As the Bible citations move to the New Testament, we learn another dimension of Truth, God, through the example of Christ-healing. A woman with debilitating blood issues for many years reaches out to simply touch Christ Jesus’ clothes and is healed (see Mark 5, cit. 16). How did it happen? Through the potency of grace and Truth that Christ Jesus embodied.

Christ Jesus’ healing and teaching ministry offered one example after another of the light and freedom an understanding of Truth brings to our human journey. And the best news is that healing continues today through Christ. Science and Health explains: “Christ, as the spiritual or true idea of God, comes now as of old, preaching the gospel to the poor, healing the sick, and casting out evils” (p. 347 , cit. 22).

The author of Acts uses a series of speeches to tell of Christianity’s unstoppable progress, one of the most dramatic being the Apostle Paul’s defense speech to King Agrippa (see Acts 26, cit. 21). What began as an effort to stop Christ Jesus’ teachings became instead a shining example of the power of obedience to a divine calling. “Obedience to Truth gives man power and strength” (Science and Health, p. 183 , cit. 24). This Lesson inspires us to be such witnesses wherever our divine calling and walk leads.