The Right Mental Picture

[Written Especially for Young People]

TERESE ROSE NAGEL

A young newspaper woman, a student of Christian Science, had been invited to a dinner party which she felt she was not interested in attending. It had been rumored that the company would not be congenial, and that a good time was not to be expected. Upon considering the situation, however, and on viewing it from an unselfish standpoint, she reasoned with herself that wherever she went God would guide her, and that wherever she was she could serve Him; that there was work for her to do wherever God, in His perfect wisdom, led her.

In her early days as a student of Christian Science, this writer had the habit of speaking much about herself and her journalistic work. This was done because of genuine enthusiasm for her profession. Often, however, this enthusiasm would be misunderstood by others. And thus she prayed daily for tempered zeal and for an earnest and sincere realization of the Psalmist's words, "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." So she found herself gradually overcoming this false trait of unwise speech.

Upon arriving at the dinner party, she was placed next to a beginner in Christian Science who was also a newspaper writer. Her companion during the course of the evening kept conversing about herself and her work, about her accomplishments and success. Here the first writer saw a picture of her own early experience, when zeal and blind enthusiasm had been such an obstruction to harmony. She was also reminded on this occasion that in an article on "Contagion" in "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy states (p. 228), "Whatever man sees, feels, or in any way takes cognizance of, must be caught through mind." Here was a mental picture of her own thoughts. What was she to do with this picture on this occasion?

Thoughts of unjust criticism, condemnation, and erroneous judgment aggressively suggested themselves. These false mental pictures were instantaneously rejected, and replaced with tolerance, compassion, and understanding. The right ideal was upheld and expressed. Then the companion turned to the writer with a plea for advice regarding a member of her family who was in physical distress. That evening saw the beginning of a splendid friendship. The unseeing of the false belief of talkativeness and untempered zeal had brought healing in its wings. And eventually the younger student was led to have class instruction and into the practice of Christian Science healing.

In thinking over this experience, the writer recalled the spiritual interpretation of the word "zeal" on page 599 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" as "the reflected animation of Life, Truth, and Love." Our Leader gives the material definition as "blind enthusiasm; mortal will." Had the thought of mortal will and blind enthusiasm been fastened on the younger companion, this error might temporarily have obscured the inspiration, freshness, and spontaneity which prompted her to ask for help.

Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 360): "Dear reader, which mind-picture or externalized thought shall be real to you,—the material or the spiritual? Both you cannot have. You are bringing out your own ideal."

In our school, social, and business contacts, we often meet individuals who do not come up to the ideal we have accepted as the standard for behavior, approach, and attitude. Is our "mind-picture" of these individuals material or spiritual? Do we reject the false pictures of aggressiveness, bad manners, and other material traits? Do we lift up in our thought the true ideal of spiritual man? One right thought about our brother may help to lift his burden. One right "mind-picture" may help to change the course of an individual's entire experience, and set him on the road to a higher understanding of God and man.

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