Identity

EDWARD EARLE DANIELL

One is often sorely tempted to accept the evidence of the senses when after a clear declaration of the truth of being one's problem seems no nearer a right solution; yet it is only by sustained confidence in the certain and scientific action of Truth that the answer is perceived. An experience of the writer's several years ago which clearly illustrates this point has ever been a source of encouragement to him.

At that time I was employed in the interest of our daily newspaper, The Christian Science Monitor, and one day a bank note for a year's subscription to our paper, with a slip containing the name and address of the person to whom the paper was to be sent, was handed me. The note and address slip were put in a pocket with other memoranda to be attended to the following morning. The next day, however, the money and slip were missing, and after a careful search at home and in the office, the conclusion was reached that the papers must have been pulled from the pocket while I was getting out my car fare. For a moment the fear of loss became acute; there was nothing by which to identify the money, and the name slip would mean nothing to anyone finding it. Then like a flash came these words from page 477 of our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy: "Identity is the reflection of Spirit, the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love." As an immediate proof of this the name of the subscriber came to my thought. I then asked the one who had handed me the subscription if she could recall the address. This was done, thus satisfying me that an understanding of spiritual identity was the first need.

With some of my own money the subscription was sent in, and for the next few weeks whenever the sense of loss would present itself it was met with a firm denial. The truth had been declared, and it was true. As that which was lost represented humanly a sense of substance, it was seen that its identity was in spiritual reflection, and that dishonesty could not hide or displace any idea of Truth. Then one day, in rummaging through a letter file in a lower drawer of my desk, the bill and address slip were found folded together, although I had no remembrance of having had the file open for a long time back.

Some time later I met a friend who was distracted over the loss of her hand bag. About to go on a vacation, she had left home for her place of business laden with suit case, umbrella, and bag; but on arriving at the office she discovered that the bag containing keys, rings, and money was gone. I told her of my experience and what the statement from the textbook had meant to me. She asked me to help her, and with a promise to do so, I left. The thought came at once that the truth had been declared in relating my own experience, and that since it was the truth, there was nothing further to do than to stand firm.

Later in the morning a telephone message brought the information that there had been no development in the case, but that two advertisements of the loss had been inserted in a daily newspaper in the name of the young lady's landlord. As she had a check to cover expenses she was advised to go on her vacation, for the case was met, notwithstanding material evidence to the contrary. Not until more than a month later did we meet again, and the finding of the bag was related to a grateful and humble listener,—humbled before this second proof of the omnipotence of ever present Truth.

The landlord had received a reply to the first advertisement and found the bag in the possession of a shoe cobbler just around the corner from the young lady's apartment. He gave up the bag minus five dollars, which, as he informed the remonstrating landlord, was his just reward. The second appearance of the advertisement brought another reply to the perplexed landlord. An appointment with the man who made this answer revealed the fact that he had discovered the bag on the step of the apartment and, being in a hurry, had left it at the most convenient place, the cobbler's, with the direction to give it to whoever might inquire for it. The exorbitant reward was recovered and the real finder justly rewarded.

These two incidents but serve to illustrate the simple and scientific action of Truth, bringing to light in human consciousness the perfection of divine Mind with its healing, protecting power. We need only "declare the decree," as the psalmist says, and abide in the understanding of Truth's omnipotence.

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