The Word "Let"

BARBARA WARDWELL

It is very interesting and helpful to find how many times in the Bible, and in our dear Leader's writings, the little, very significant word "let" is used. In the dictionary we find that "let" means "to permit; allow." In the imperative mood it expresses desire or wish. Another meaning given, although not so frequently used, is "to hinder or prevent." The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Philippians, says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Here we find an example of the first definition. Could we permit anything greater than this, or more beneficial to us and to the world?

The tenth verse of the one hundred and nineteenth psalm reads, "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments." Here desire is expressed—a desire so great that if we each would sincerely and eanestly possess it, we should never fear or doubt. Christ Jesus said, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." There could be no better desire than to abide in His love, unselfed and pure. In Isaiah we find an example of the less familiar meaning of the word "let." "Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?" In other words, I will work and who shall prevent or hinder it?

Many times we are confronted with the erroneous thought that we have worked and worked with no result. Then comes the question, Why? Often the answer is found in the little word "let." Mrs. Eddy says in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 495), "Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious—as Life eternally is—can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not. Let Christian Science, instead of corporeal sense, support your understanding of being, and this understanding will supplant error with Truth, replace mortality with immortality, and silence discord with harmony." Are we willing to let God govern our thoughts and actions? Are we supplanting error with Truth? Are we not, rather, letting fear overshadow our clear sense when we allow ourselves to be confronted with a wrong thought? How very essential it is, then, to let God's love be ever present in our thought, and to let His law govern us; for He alone knows how to govern correctly.

In all instances, it has been proved that if we submit our way to God, and then follow His directing absolutely, we are always led upward and onward to greater joy and peace. We find, in every occupation, in business, in teaching, in whatever our daily walk in life may be, that the days which are most successful, most inspiring, fullest of love, are the ones in which we have been willing to let God's perfect plan be followed.

For example, take the teacher who instructs little children, many of whom may be to human sense anything but clean and robust. What is the teacher's duty? Mrs. Eddy makes the following statement in Science and Health (p. 407): "Let the perfect model be present in your thoughts instead of its demoralized opposite." With the perfect model of God's creating ever present in the teacher's thought, her school work will in time become an expression of harmony, intelligence, and health. An instance of the application of this recently came to my attention. A teacher in one of our city schools, a Christian Scientist, upon entering the classroom one morning, perceived very evident manifestation of physical trouble with many of the little ones. Immediately the teacher realized that in God's universe, which in reality is the only universe, there is no inharmonious condition. Within a very short period the error disappeared entirely, never to return.

Were every one in the business world governed by divine Mind, God, the outcome would be such universal love that no inharmony, no strikes, and no injustice could occur. In the home, let divine Love be reflected, and note the result. There would be no worrying, no fearing about any material condition; for it would be proved that our Father-Mother God is ever present to care for all His loved ones. How very important it is, then, that we who have been given this glorious truth of Christian Science, which is free to all, be awake to our duty to God, and to the world. In "Retrospection and Introspection" Mrs. Eddy gives us most excellent advice. On page 55 of this book she says: "Let us follow the example of Jesus, the master Metaphysician, and gain sufficient knowledge of error to destroy it with Truth. Evil is not mastered by evil; it can only be overcome with good. This brings out the nothingness of evil and the eternal somethingness, vindicates the divine Principle, and improves the race of Adam."

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