One clever way of catching some monkeys is to put a favorite food in a tethered hollow gourd with an opening just large enough to admit an empty paw. The monkey reaches in and grasps the food, which enlarges its paw and prevents it from passing back through the opening. Some monkeys will keep their grip on the food even though it results in their remaining a prisoner of the gourd and being captured. We may think how stupid such monkeys must be to fall for such a trick, but does this not have a sardonic parallel in mankind's seemingly irresistible and often fatal attraction to the material and physical and to medicine and doctoring?
Christian Scientists may not be acting any wiser than the monkey, however, when they intone texts from the Bible or the writings of Mary Baker Eddy as if they were incantations with some glorious inherent power. When the Word does enter our heart and help and heal it is because some spiritual sense of those words has, however briefly, spoken to us and touched us, not some latent force present in syllable and grammar. "Felt ye the power of the Word?" (MBE, "Communion Hymn") Words and sentences, if not consciously imbued with Spirit, are but human mutterings which can't affect the floating of a mote in the sunlit air.
Many of us may need to release some hidebound concepts of God we have lovingly and diligently accumulated over the years, else like the monkey we may become prisoners of them. It may be necessary for us to see God in glorious newness each day. Every Sunday these words from I John 3 are read in Christian Science churches: ". . . we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." Not as a comfy down-at-the-heels pair of slippers we need to get rid of but can't bear to part with. J. B. Phillips has this inspired rendering of the passage: "We only know that, if reality were to break through, we should reflect his likeness, for we should see him as he really is!"
As we do this we are fulfilling our duty to God to express our eternal oneness with Him as children of Light.
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11 comments:
Engaging title, as usual. And the content well worth my time reading.
Thanks much...
Brentwood, TN
Good comparision, Christian Scientists acting like monkeys.
Thanks for giving us out here substantial things to think about regarding this Cause we owe so much to!
Keep up your inspired listening to God and your wonderful sharing, our friend.
What a comforting title, and a very well written piece. You are doing ongoing good work, and I salute you!
Love that thought, "children of Light". You are obviously a well read blogger as well as a deep student of Christian Science. Hats off to you for a very fine blog!
What a neat title you've chosen for your excellent entry. So appropriate for us here in the middle of cold weather. Your message comforting all the way around.
I thank you!
(New Hampshire)
What a beautiful thought, dear blogger, seeing God in a glorious new light each day! Is there anything more important to us Christian Scientists than loving God more, having a clearer sense that He is indeed All in all as we are taught?
I'll bet you would be a good practitioner--if you're not one already!
Enjoying this blog very much.
I dont think the church wants this blogger! But then again the bar isnt to high.
I'll bet (if I were a betting man, that is,) that the church already has this blogger, as a listed practitioner. Not only does this writer show deep devotion to Christian Science, but this person is sincere and humble on top of it!
You do express your deep thoughts so expertly. A joy to read such a well-written blog, my friend.
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