Love's Way

KATHERINE E. VARGA

There are two verses toward the close of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount which have grown in significance to at least one student of Christian Science. In the seventh chapter of the gospel of Matthew we read, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." When first studied, there appeared to be little of tenderness or comfort in it; but a clearer understanding of the verses revealed instruction infinitely tender, together with the sweetest sense of comfort and assurance.

When the writer was a little girl she lived in a small village, and many were the narrow interpretations of Scripture which she heard,—and alas, pondered! This passage from Matthew was ever a popular text, and the more she heard it preached from, the more she felt inclined to love those on the so-called broad path, and the less she cared for those supposed to be treading the narrow way. Self-righteousness and the arrogance of ignorance were felt, but not understood by the child, yearning even then to know the truth about God. Later, when the study of Christian Science was begun, some verses of Scripture yielded instantly to a more spiritual interpretation; the concept of others gradually improved; but some seemed inclosed as within a rock of false theology, and apparently yielded not at all.

One week the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly contained, as it had many times before, the passage just quoted from the Way-shower's mountain message. For five days it was hastily read, each time with a slight mental shiver. It did seem so foreign to the warm, loving message of Christian Science! But at the end of that week it came to her, much as it might have come had the Master been able to draw near to her and say: Dear child, there is nothing frightful or hard in what I have said. You can understand it clearly. It is very simple; for the broad way is the belief in evil as a power, and this belief must ever lead, so long as indulged in, to the destruction of one's happiness and health. The narrow way is the understanding of good,—good only,—the absolute allness of God. Then she saw that those who had in a self-satisfied way considered themselves on the narrow road had been on a road or way far broader than they had dreamed, a way of false gods,—worry, ill nature, and criticism.

Wrong thoughts frequently turn many of us into the broad path; and the calling of ourselves students of Christian Science is of itself insufficient to assure us that we are treading the divinely narrow way. Lack of loving sympathy, the absence of joy, the presence of self-righteousness, certainly place us on the broad way; while eagerly and earnestly striving to love God's children, generously and kindly to be tender and pure, plants our feet on the narrow road of Love's allness. Our dear Leader, Mrs. Eddy, says in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 132),"Divine Love hath opened the gate Beautiful to us, where we may see God and live, see good in good,—God all, one,—one Mind and that divine; where we may love our neighbor as ourselves, and bless our enemies."

It is impossible to ponder on the picture called "The Way" in Mrs. Eddy's book "Christ and Christmas" (p. 49) without feeling that if we are taking our steps honestly in the truth, our way will be bright with light and glory. This is true, whatever our problems may seem to be, or whatever mortal mind says we have to meet. To the one desirous above all else of gaining the bliss of a life "hid with Christ in God," the earth-shadows, though heavy, cannot darken the way. We should all desire to feel a growing conviction that God's children can and will grow in happiness and sunshine. Flowers do not make the most headway in tempest and storm; and the Master bade us consider them and their growth. Sometimes we seem almost to feel and imply that the trying times in our experience are about the only times we grow. Might it not help if we changed our attitude and really expected ourselves and others to grow more in the God-given light of happiness?

Whether, however, the path to sense seem dark or bright, nothing will assure our way being happy and bright but the utmost humility, love for and toward all, and the prayer ever to reflect childlike trust and confidence, feeling the sweet assurance:—

"So near to God am I
That if I stretch my hand
I feel it in His own,
And firm in Love I stand.
No night of mine grows dark,
No path of mine grows wild,
So near to God am I,
His little child.

"So near to God am I
That if I whisper low
He hears my yearning thought,
He knows before I know.
No prayer of mine is lost,
No good of mine denied,
So dear to God am I,
His little child."

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