Genuine Sympathy

LIONEL A. HARTSHORNE

How often we hear the remark, "Oh, I do sympathize with him for he certainly does seem to be having a hard time." While it would indeed be a poor heart that did not feel compassion for his brother and the desire to help him, yet too often such a remark brings before the thought a picture of a mortal overwhelmed by the relentless forces of mortal mind over which he seems to have little or no control. Sympathizing in this way can only serve to bind more heavily the load already resting upon the overburdened one.

Turning, as we are taught in Christian Science, to God and His idea for the solution of this problem, we read on page 102 of "Miscellaneous Writings" by Mary Baker Eddy, "The sympathy of His eternal Mind is fully expressed in divine Science, which blots out all our iniquities and heals all our diseases;" and she continues. "Human pity often brings pain." What we need, then, is true sympathy, "the sympathy of His eternal Mind," "fully expressed in divine Science."

This healing sympathy reveals itself to us in our dire need and stands out oftentimes most clearly in the darkest hours. Divine Science expressing infinite compassion and infinite tenderness, opens our eyes, which mere human pity would close, to the legions of angels encompassing one and all; brings relief from suffering; discloses to our widening vision new resources of available strength, courage, confidence, joy, and healing, new ways of lightening our burdens, new vistas of hitherto unsuspected means of service awaiting us. Thus is the mesmeric hold of error broken through true and fearless sympathy.

Error, knocking at the door of consciousness asks to be accepted at its own valuation—never at God's; for God is Truth, and Truth exposes error's nothingness. Error would have us sympathize with physical symptoms of disease which appeal either in our own experience or in the experience of those around us. It would call those unloving who do not subscribe to its viewpoint; but the clear light of Christian Science dispels its mesmerism and sets free the captive.

This was proved to one who had been interested in Christian Science only a short time. This student was alarmed one day to feel the symptoms of approaching disease, and for a moment looked forward with dread to days of discomfort and pain. Then, like a flash, there came to his thought the blessed truth that because God, Life, is All, there is no disease, and because there is no disease it cannot have any symptoms, and consequently it was impossible for him to experience them. This reasoning, inspired by the study of Mrs. Eddy's works, was sufficient instantly to dispel all symptoms of the disease and bring about instantaneous healing.

In just such simple liberating experiences is the sympathy of divine Mind expressed, and the symptoms of man's release from the binding influence of the material senses begin to appear. These symptoms are clearly set forth by our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, when on pages 100 and 101 of "Miscellaneous Writings" she asks: "Who remembers that patience, forgiveness, abiding faith, and affection, are the symptoms by which our Father indicates the different stages of man's recovery from sin and his entrance into Science? Who knows how the feeble lips are made eloquent, how hearts are inspired, how healing becomes spontaneous, and how the divine Mind is understood and demonstrated? He alone knows these wonders who is departing from the thraldom of the senses and accepting spiritual truth,—that which blesses its adoption by the refinement of joy and the dismissal of sorrow."

As we learn step by step to watch for the appearing of these symptoms in ourselves and others, we shall become increasingly conscious of the ever-presence of "the sympathy of His eternal Mind," embracing one and all, and shall experience more fully the joy and peace which this awareness brings.

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Love That Heals and Unites

February 26, 1944

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