Through the Clouds

FLOYD A. LUNDELL

When an aviator leaves the ground on a cloudy day he may not know the thickness of the clouds through which he must climb in order to be in pure sunlight. So we, in our journey from sense to Soul, do not know the exact experiences we must go through, before we reach the heights of unlimited vision. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 355) Mrs. Eddy writes, "To strike out right and left against the mist, never clears the vision; but to lift your head above it, is a sovereign panacea." We know, therefore, that we must strive to go higher to gain a viewpoint from which we can see above the mists. Then we can continue to go higher, and need not again be submerged under the clouds of sense; for our source of power is not "of the earth, earthy."

On one occasion a student of Christian Science, who is an aviator, climbed through the clouds that were apparent from the ground, but found, after getting through this first layer of clouds, that there was a second layer; and continuing to fly until sight was gained through the second layer, he found that still a third layer existed between the earth and the sun. Now the object was to see pure sunlight, and the very fact that there was some light on the ground was proof to the aviator that pure sunlight existed, and he knew that he had only to climb high enough to get into it.

Does not the fact that in our mortal life we see or experience some love, some truth, some life, point to the truth that when we have climbed through the last cloud of material sense we shall have gained an unlimited view of God—Life, Truth, and Love—in all His goodness, strength, and beauty? After going through one layer of clouds, or working out one problem, does it do any good, or is it reasonable, for one to return to materiality and say there is no pure sunlight, simply because a second layer, or problem, appears which must be climbed through? Certainly not. The very gaining of altitude above one cloud is proof of progress, and the working out of one problem in Christian Science by the application of its rules, is proof that a higher spiritual altitude has been gained. It is our privilege to count each problem solved, or to be solved, as a means of rising toward the eternal heights.

When an aviator goes into a thick and dense bank of cloud, he loses sight of the objects on the ground by which he has been guiding himself, and unknown to him his aeroplane begins to circle and get into such angles in relation to the earth that his compass and other instruments become almost useless. However, if he be skillful, the sense which stays longest with him is his sense of which direction is up; and he can generally keep on climbing. When he does get above the clouds, he can fly in one direction until his compass functions normally, and then turn in the right direction. So, in our human experiences we may become mystified and not know which way to turn or what to do, because we have found that material objects and mortal sense cannot guide us; but if we cling to a right sense of God and His idea, and always strive to gain a higher and still higher viewpoint, we must eventually get above the mist, and with the help of a clearer vision place ourselves in right relation, or, better, see ourselves in right relation to our fellow-man, and go on our way climbing and rejoicing.

With the aeroplanes now in common use no pilot would attempt to go straight up, because such an attempt would prove disastrous. He would, instead, so incline his plane with the horizontal that he would be using what is called the maximum climbing angle, which would give him the fastest progress upward. So in Christian Science we do not say that God is the Father of all and takes care of all, and then turn our backs on our duty to our families, our employer, or our friends. This would be like the aviator who tries to go straight up. Instead, we continue to go forward as human parents, employees, and friends, but applying the rules of Christian Science to the best of our ability. Doing this, we begin to incline our life upward; and if each day we go as high as we possibly can, we have assumed the maximum climbing angle; and the eventual result must be a clearer and clearer vision, a happier and ever freer sense of life, until we are fully able to lay all our burdens at His feet.

In this we have the wonderful example of our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, who so patiently and lovingly started the Christian Science movement, and each year piloted it higher and higher, until it now continues to elevate the race in spite of all efforts to tear it to pieces. Mrs. Eddy assisted, counseled, and led many to each higher step as they were able to take it. If, each day, we strive to look upward and improve every opportunity to climb up through each mystifying circumstance, the final result must be the recognition and realization of unlimited Life, Truth, and Love.

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