Day

SAMUEL JOHNSTONE MACDONALD

Words may be spoken of as links in chains of thought. Just as one link of a chain brings up another, so does one word bring up another. Scholars have invented a convenient word to designate this quality or characteristic of words, and accordingly they say that one word connotates, or connotes, another ; as, for example, father connotes son, parent connotes child, and so on. Thus the word day connotes many other words, among which will first appear sunrise and sunset. To complete the full idea of day one will recall many other cognate words, chief among which are dawn, morning, noon, afternoon, twilight. In such apparent progression and retreat does each earthly day round out its complete appearance, or brief cycle, and then seem to pass on; so that we speak of "days that are past" as if in some shadowy realm called the past each day was laid away in its appointed place, and could be recalled at will, like some obedient servitor.

The student of Christian Science, learning by degrees that the so-called material universe is only the shadowy apparition or poor counterfeit of the real universe, also learns that the earthly day is likewise a mere appearance and counterfeit and has no real and actual existence. What the real day is, he is beginning to learn when he apprehends in some degree the meaning of the psalmist's declaration, "A day in thy courts is better than a thousand." In pondering this statement he will first slowly rid himself of the educated belief that this is a mere emotional outburst, or a poetical expression of devotional fervor. The sooner this belief is discarded the sooner will he begin to understand that the Bible is really an inspired work and the word of Truth, not merely a compilation of tribal traditions and folk-songs. Thus he will gradually realize that its statements are exact, precise, and scientific, only awaiting our advancing comprehension, and that our revered Leader was no less than inspired when she discovered the name Christian Science for this wonderful and inexhaustible study.

The real day may be apprehended from this pregnant statement in Science and Health (p. 209) : "Mind, supreme over all its formations and governing them all, is the central sun of its own systems of ideas, the life and light of all its own vast creation ; and man is tributary to divine Mind." It should therefore be readily apparent that when we shall have overcome all sense of material need, we shall have real ized the perfect day,—"and there shall be no night there." It must follow, consequently, that our night is nothing but a mortal sense of the absence of light, or, in other words, a material sense of need. Now, when this night falls upon him, what does the student of Christian Science do? Does he not seek the courts of the divine Mind, which are ever illumined by the infinite central sun? And does he not invariably find, with glowing gratitude, that "a day in thy courts is better than a thousand"?

Come, then, dear brother, you who cry out with the psalmist, "I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim ; I water my couch with my tears," let us spend a day in the courts of divine Mind, and behold if you are not surely healed. See, there across the thickest darkness trembles the dawn, the first faint groping sense that divine Mind is Love, infinite, ever present, ever active good. Does not even the dawn bring hope? And does not gentle patience with cooling touch bid us wait "until the day break, and the shadows flee away," and blessed peace begin to spread her comforting wings over you? Truly, the dawn "feedeth among the lilies," and one might well be content to dwell forever in its gentle twilight; but "God said, Let there be light," and light is therefore the law of God's universe. So we may not linger in the gardens of dawn, even among the lilies ; for we too shall behold "the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings."

One healed in Christian Science is beginning to learn right thinking; to think thoughts of good instead of thoughts of evil, thoughts of trust instead of thoughts of care, thoughts of love instead of thoughts of hate, thoughts of health, harmony, and holiness instead of thoughts of disease, disorder, and discord. Thus do the faithful followers of Christ, Truth, spend the glorious morning in patiently, lovingly, and joyously learning to think aright, and before they really become aware of it the effulgent high noon of demonstration bursts upon their glorified spiritual sense and they are healed.

Who then shall begrudge them the placid afternoon of joy in healing and harmony? This is not Lotus-land, however, the land where it is ever afternoon, and they presently awaken at the call of gratitude and learn that it is a vital thing and not a mere quiescent and mesmeric sense of thankfulness. The glowing colors of loving gratitude paint a wondrous sunset, and then pass imperceptibly into a long, lustrous twilight of peace and joy. Then "he giveth his beloved sleep," and lo, this wondrous day has indeed been "better than a thousand."

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Despite the Seeming

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