"Such as I have"
What I can do to help mankind seems so insignificant. Can it really make a difference?
Haven't we all thought about doing something so significant that it would make a pronounced difference to the world scene—making a sizable donation to a worthy cause, perhaps, or a scientific breakthrough, or performing some heroic act.
Though probably not many of us will contribute in such dramatic ways, we can help to tip the balance toward good by expressing God in our daily life. It's not the magnitude of the act that counts but the act itself. Honesty applies as much to a dime as to a dollar. And we all have something to give right where we are: we can bring help and healing through Christianly scientific love for our fellowman.
Christ Jesus did his healing work on this basis. His love was expressed in a persistent recognition that man is spiritual, the result of God's creating, not a sinning or sick mortal. Exploring the basis of Jesus' healing works, Mrs. Eddy explains in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health: "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." Science and Health, pp. 476—477.
We have the Christian privilege and duty of following the Master's example in the way we show our love for our fellow-man. And let's not underestimate the importance of even the smallest act—even the smallest effort to perceive the genuine, spiritual nature of man! We should remember the words in Jesus' parable: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt. 25:40.
Isn't what is required of us, then, the desire to act in a Christly manner and to give of what we have? As Science and Health puts the demand, "What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds." Science and Health, p. 4.
I was often approached by crowds of needy children asking for money. Someone said that if you gave to one, you had to give to all. This seemed a less-than-charitable stand.
Peter and John were ready to share their spiritual understanding when they were approached at the temple by a lame man who asked for alms. Seeing that his need extended beyond a charitable donation, Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." The account continues, saying that the man "entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God." Acts 3:6, 8. Peter had given him such as he had—and it was a gift greater than gold.
Years ago when traveling through the Far East with a group, I was often approached by crowds of needy children asking for money. I often did give money, but it was obvious that the need remained. It was apparently insurmountable. Another traveler, who consistently spurned the children's need, remarked that if you gave to one, you had to give to all. This seemed a less-than-charitable stand, and I pondered the remark for a long time.
Years later, as a student of Christian Science, I learned a more lasting basis for helping others. I saw that in addition to wise charitable giving, I needed to acknowledge the spiritual identity of each individual I met. My giving had to grow from the understanding that man is a spiritual idea created, as the Bible declares, "in the image of God." Gen. 1:27. This man of God's creating is whole, complete, satisfied, and able. This showed me a way of giving to all, not just one. I could see that I had the duty to behold the true, Godlike identity of each individual. Such love flows outward to the world. It is available to each of us, though it requires a deep desire to really care about our fellowman.
For Christ Jesus, pride of position or power never entered the picture. The Master was found with those needing a physician, tenderly caring for them, healing them—and his treatment was purely metaphysical. Guiding, inspiring, and comforting his followers, he taught God's nature as Father-Mother.
Should our motives, then, be merely to accumulate material possessions, imbibe more of the "good life," or climb the ladder of corporate success? Science and Health offers this reference point: "Christian Science reveals Truth and Love as the motive-powers of man." Science and Health, p. 490. With divine Love as our motive power, we have a strong inducement to look deeper than the mortal picture —to the spiritual reality of man's being. As we do this, we will see more of God's likeness everywhere, and we will see more effective ways to contribute to humanity's welfare.
Loving man as God's pure likeness gives a freedom not obtained in other ways. This was clearly demonstrated to me on one occasion while I was serving as a school principal.
Over a period of about a month, several classroom windows had been broken by rocks thrown from a secluded side of the building. The damage was done on weekends and resulted in considerable commotion and inconvenience on Monday mornings. Though no official witnesses came forward, the name of one boy was given to me by several sources, and I decided to call him to my office for a conference.
As I reviewed the events with him, I was determined to see him steadfastly as God's reflection and not as a deceitful mortal with lawless tendencies. I spoke to him of the moral responsibilities all our students had and added that I knew what an upright boy he really was. Throughout our talk he admitted no wrongdoing.
About a week later the boy's father telephoned to make an appointment for the two of them. He said the boy had something he wanted to tell me. During the conference that followed, the student admitted breaking the windows and said he wanted to make full restitution. A settlement was agreed upon that allowed him to make weekly payments until the damage was paid for. He expressed sincere regret for his actions. I told him that his honesty and right desire deserved respect. His correct view of himself had freed him from false identification and given him a higher sense of selfhood.
The Christlike desire to help and to heal, however modestly, blesses both the receiver and the giver. It shows what we can do—and our doing of it makes a pronounced difference to the world scene.
