"The evergreen of Soul"

JANET MC CORMICK-GOODHART

In the Preface to "Miscellaneous Writings" (pp. ix, x) Mary Baker Eddy makes this statement: "The fleeting freshness of youth, however, is not the evergreen of Soul; the coloring glory of perpetual bloom; the spiritual glow and grandeur of a consecrated life wherein dwelleth peace, sacred and sincere in trial or in triumph."

As one ponders this statement, thought turns naturally toward the grand lesson which is given by the evergreen trees. The evergreens retain their beauty and vigor throughout the seasons, normal or abnormal, from year to year. They are promissory of the glorious agelessness of the primal perfection of Life, Soul, God.

On a certain hillside, dear to the heart of the writer, grow a number of tall, strong pines, cedars, spruces, and hemlocks, their roots firmly grounded below the sod. Steadfast and strong they stand, with poise and grace which speak of the perfect peace of God.

The writer has learned useful lessons in thinking about these trees. She has seen that, as they are firmly rooted, so the Christian Scientist, understanding God and man, and loving God, good, supremely, stands amid the seeming blasts of error undismayed, having his thinking firmly fixed in "a soil of love" (Poems, p. 20).

Faithful to his grounding in the truth that God is the only creator or cause, and that the real man is God's reflection, eternally harmonious and happy, the student of Christian Science manifests steadfast, patient courage, no matter what the seeming argument of materiality, be it of disease, moral discord, or financial difficulty, until through the Christ, Truth, healing is realized. The Christian Scientist is not intimidated by the false suggestions of mortal mind, knowing his true identity as God's idea. If on occasion he finds that he must face the temporal whims of human thinking, he nevertheless maintains his own God-given standard of right thinking, which protects him under all circumstances.

The inner consciousness of "God with us" is our peace and our joy; and should we seem to be burdened with the sense of error's predominance, let us stand quietly, patiently knowing the relieving truth that God is All-in-all, and that in reality all is well. Thus in maintaining our own awareness of the activity of good alone, we shall be helping to lift the load of care from others. Our lives will bless those around us, as lighted candles brighten a dark room. Let us rest in the glorious sunlight of Truth, which melts away the false arguments of error. Thus shall we find ourselves reflecting the ageless beauty of Soul in thought and deed, consecrated to Love's purpose, maintaining spiritual peace in the awareness of the presence and power of God.

How helpful is Christ Jesus' counsel, "In your patience possess ye your souls"! The patient, joyous knowing of the ever-presence of divine Mind brings about the submission of the material senses to the reign of Soul, and we are led "from glory to glory," into the perpetual serenity of Love, the ageless radiance of perfect spiritual being.

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Understanding Our Fellow Man

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