God's ever-operative laws

John F. Anderson

When my state-of-the-art printer for my computer began turning out a lot of indecipherable gibberish, and finally refusing to work at all, I called the nearest factory-authorized repair shop and made an appointment to take it in. I also began thinking about God's law being available to everyone. In particular, I thought about this statement in Science and Health: "A knowledge of the Science of being develops the latent abilities and possibilities of man. It extends the atmosphere of thought, giving mortals access to broader and higher realms. It raises the thinker into his native air of insight and perspicacity" (p. 128). This affirmation has been a great inspiration on many occasions, and it was on this one as well. I knew that even though I had no knowledge of the inner working of this printing device, I would be able to perceive whether or not to proceed with any repair work.

Christ Jesus' teachings refer to man's unity with God, which exists because man is actually God's, or Mind's, spiritual reflection, His means of expressing Himself. Therefore man has constant access to all of the ideas of Mind. I knew that even a little grasp of the true nature of my being would enable me to discuss this problem intelligently with the technician.

The technician took a look at the inner workings of the printer and said, "Sir, you have a real problem here. It will require a long and costly repair." Then he set forth an extensive list of parts and labour that would be needed to render my printer operative. All the while I was praying for divine guidance, knowing that the ideas we need are constantly being unfolded to us by the all-knowing, divine Mind. Our job is to be receptive to these spiritual ideas. Even while the technician was making out the list, what seemed to be a "still small voice" (see I Kings 19:12) came to me, saying, "There's a test that you can make with this printer to show if it is really in need of these repairs." Acting on this insight, I told the technician that I'd like to take the printer with me and test it out once more before authorizing the work to be done.

When I got home, I sent an e-mail to my son, who is of a generation better oriented to high-tech electronic devices than mine. He said, "Dad, read the manual!" (That's what he always says when I ask him technical questions.) He added, "There's a test you can make to ascertain if your printer is really out of whack!" As it turned out, the printer responded positively to the test and has been working well ever since.

Whether our proofs of God's ever-operative laws are great or small, whether they apply to inanimate objects or to our bodies and minds, every healing achieved through a better understanding of God and His all-spiritual creation enables us to realize the dominion that God has given His idea, man. I don't mean to suggest that the ultimate goal of prayer is to enable us to live smoother, more comfortable lives in matter. Rather, every instance of healing leads to an increased awareness that "we live, and move, and have our being" in the infinite God, good (Acts 17:28).

John F. Anderson
Houston, Texas

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Circulation of literature

July 28, 1997

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