"God is responsible"

ELIZABETH RUTH FAGUNDUS

CHRIST JESUS said. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Are not these words addressed to all who seem to have a burdened sense of responsibility? How often do we become heavy laden in our home and business relationships, or in our church activities, claiming that it would be quite impossible to accept one more duty or to perform one more task!

The words spoken by the Master to Martha, the sister of Lazarus, are as a beacon of light to the heavy-laden: "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part." What was the one needful thing which Mary had chosen, but which her troubled sister had overlooked? Mary had recognized the Christ, which Jesus manifested, and had put aside all else that she might gain an understanding of the spiritual power which was healing the sick and raising the dead. One can easily imagine that Martha thought, But all this has to be done—it is my responsibility. Jesus knew that as Martha sought God first, she could do that which needed to be done in her human experience without being troubled or burdened.

Our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, tells us in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 347): "God is responsible for the mission of those whom He has anointed. Those who know no will but His take His hand, and from the night He leads to light." As we put first things first, and obey God's will, we may know that our true mission is of God, and that "God is responsible." We do not need to be disturbed because we may seem to be in "the night" at the moment, but can trustingly know that as we take His hand He leads us to the light.

A student of Christian Science was very grateful to be led to the light through an experience of healing. She had come under a burdened sense of great responsibility, and this false sense had manifested itself in a belief of sleeplessness. She awakened one night in severe pain, the suggestion seeming very real that there was another sleepless night before her. She arose and began to walk the floor, declaring the allness of God—His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience. Suddenly it seemed very clear to her that since man is a spiritual idea, the expression of immortal Mind, the pain was no part of man. Seeing this spiritual fact, she knew that the pain was not her pain; she had nothing to do with it, and it was unreal. She realized such a sense of freedom from all responsibility in the matter that she returned to bed and fell asleep immediately.

During the days following this experience, the good that had come to her in that moment of revelation continued to unfold. Greater freedom was expressed in all her relationships; false responsibilities of home, business, and church activities were seen for what they were—merely arguments, claiming a false sense of responsibility apart from God. An additional duty in church work, which had seemed to her impossible to assume, was accepted lovingly and gratefully. In place of the tense, pushing thought of human will came a clear sense of divine direction, and of action through reflection.

Divine direction, and action through reflection! How grateful we are to the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy, for the revelation of the coexistence of God and man; for the spiritual understanding that all real activity comes from God, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, God's presence, knowledge, and power!

We, like Mary, must choose that "good part," which cannot be taken from us. We must turn to the Christ, Truth, seeking God first and refusing to accept materiality as part of God's creation, as any part of our real existence. As we choose the one thing needful, the spiritual understanding of God and of man in His image and likeness, we find our real selfhood as the reflection of God. We express obedience to the divine will, and recognize that there is nothing in God's creation which needs to be corrected, rearranged, healed. With this concept of activity come freedom from a false personal sense of responsibility and the knowledge that a burdened sense is but a lie about God's creation.

Jesus promised rest to the heavy-laden who would come to the Christ, Truth. Mrs. Eddy, showing that promise to be applicable to our everyday living, writes (Science and Health, p. 519), "God rests in action." Are we weary and heavy-laden? Let us then open our hearts to the Christ, Truth. Let us be spiritually active, for true activity brings freedom from bondage. As God's reflection, man rests in the omniaction of good.

As we recognize all real activity as spiritual, we demonstrate divine direction and reflected activity, and gain the true sense of harmony which follows the realization that we are "anointed" of God, and that "God is responsible for the mission of those whom He has anointed."

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