"Through the midst"

VIOLET KER SEYMER

We read that on a certain occasion when Jesus was preaching in the temple the Jews took "up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." His hiding place was the sanctuary of spiritual consciousness, into which no pursuing errors of material sense have ever entered. When evil seemed to be directly aimed at him and his ministry, the attack was never alarming to Jesus, for the simple reason that, to him, God, good, alone was real. He never admitted the validity of any claim to power in opposition to God, infinite good. Spiritual understanding was his complete protection and authority at all times; and it is ours, as we abide in it.

Tests may appear in the form of epidemics, sinful temptations, fear of mental malpractice, poverty, dread of disease, or any other dread. But as Christian Scientists we can pass unharmed and undismayed through all such temptations provided we keep ever before us the fact that man is not material, but spiritual, and that our true consciousness cannot be and is not for one moment bereft of spiritual harmony and dominion. No mist of sadness or discouragement can be cast over spiritual joy, or diminish the steadfast courage which is ours by the grace of God.

We also read that those whom Jesus was once addressing in the synagogue rose up against him, and thrust him out of the city, and led him to the brow of a hill "that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way." To him matter was not substance. Therefore he could go through what seemed to others to be closed doors and escape from any situation when he desired to do so. His way was spiritual. Matter, enmity, idle threats, could not divert his thought from the spiritual or cause him to think dually, fearfully. We may assume that he did not attempt to protect suppositional life in matter, knowing that life is spiritual. Such true thinking is always triumphant and substantial. Error cannot invade it. Nothing but our own consent to admit error as real and then adopt some evil suggestion as though it were our own thought, can hinder us from being spiriutally upheld and from going on our way just as firmly, calmly, and continuously as did Jesus. The Christian Scientist does not adopt evil suggestions but spiritual ideas.

The Christ was untouched by the persecutions meted out to Jesus. "That wicked one toucheth him not." This same pure Christ, unadulterated Truth, is our refuge even as it was Jesus' refuge. That is, Christ, Truth, is our refuge in the measure in which we acknowledge life as wholly spiritual and express the Mind of Christ in our daily lives. No physical infirmity, terror, or hate has ever touched man's Godgiven identity.

It should be noted that fear is entertained only in connection with the belief in a mortal body or some material circumstance. The sense of mortal personality, to which alone fear claims to attach itself, must be denied and superseded by spirituality, spiritual identity. We cannot overcome fear while still accepting the belief in mortal personality and identifying ourselves with it. As our thought becomes more and more consciously grafted in divine Mind we shall find ourselves passing unscathed "through the midst" of all temptations.

Speaking of true education, Mrs. Eddy says that its purpose is, among other things, to make us "work midst clouds of wrong, injustice, envy, hate; and wait on God, the strong deliverer, who will reward righteousness and punish iniquity" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 252). This trenchant mental work, totally free from error, clear with Truth's own radiance, is what the Christian Scientist renews when he is meeting special tests of his faith and fidelity. At such times his spiritual alertness is quickened and his confidence in the might of right redoubled.

Mind's omnipotence is invariable and our God-inspired allegiance to it should similarly be invariable. We can always reach out to divine Mind for a still purer reflection of courage, vision, faith, and fidelity, assured that these qualities are at hand and equal to every test. The way of surrender to evil was never Jesus' way, and it is not the way of the Christian Scientist. His way was the way of surrender to God and to His purposes only; and this is our way.

The promise reads, "I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever." This "I," God, is ever at hand to illuminate the consciousness of the seeker after Truth and reveal to him the safety and immortality of man, who can never be parted from his Maker. Each one who knows this beyond a doubt can go safely "through the midst" of trials of his faith, and step by step leave each one behind him as he himself advances in the way of Godlikeness. Actually, only God, good, is in our midst. We are always in the midst of good, and Christian Science has given us the power to prove this spiritually revealed fact.

VIOLET KER SEYMER

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Renewing Our Strength

January 24, 1931

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