Friday, June 5, 2009

The Unlimited Unfoldment of Holy Thoughts

Prudential Insurance, smartly co-opting a powerful Christian symbol, reassuringly offers us "a piece of the rock" (for a price of course). As Christian Scientists we all would like our own comforting piece of the Rock--Christ, Truth. But do the specifics of how to individualize what can seem like solidly monolithic Truth get lost in a muzzy fog of timorousness and uncertainty? How can one uniquely express infinite God?

We can start by realizing we do not express God's infinity or omnipresence, but His qualities. A small piece of the rock has all the qualities of the whole rock, except, of course, size, but we are not trying to be God, but to reflect Him. Nevertheless, when we get down to the nitty-gritty of our own individual expression, the vastness of the Original can be daunting and overwhelming. We must then claim our oneness with infinite Mind, all-intelligence. Doing that, even imperfectly, should enable us to realize that nothing can limit our ability to understand and express God. That does not mean we think about God, but develop and increase our understanding of Him.

Anton Diabelli, a music publisher and minor composer, sent to a number of contemporary composers a little waltz tune of his own composition, asking each to submit a variation on it, which he would collect from all and publish. One of the composers he included was Beethoven. At first the irascible genius disdained the publicity ploy and the trite waltz as well, calling it a "Schusterfleck", a mere cobbler's patch. But even though he tossed it aside, the tune apparently gestated in that great musical mind, and the result was perhaps the finest set of variations ever written: the 33 "Diabelli Variations", a 50-60 minute masterpiece. My point, long in coming, is that if Beethoven can do this with a humble cobbler's patch to start with, shouldn't we be able to realize unlimited unfoldment in our own contemplation of God and the truths of Christian Science? It can be done and must be done if we are to put off the old man and demonstrate the complete spiritual selfhood of the new man.

If need be, we should see and think of ourselves as artists as well as Scientists. Did not Mrs. Eddy call all of us sculptors (S&H 248: 13) and if sculptors, then artists? And note that as sculptors we mould as well as chisel thought, i.e., work with the pliable in our consciousness as well as the resistant. We cannot be content to merely think about the truths that come to us, but we must wrestle with them like Jacob until our thought is blessed by an uplifting angel message.

One can hear many rich examples of the unfolding, development, or expansion of musical ideas by listening to Haydn. His music is, to me at least, clearer and simpler (but no less great for it)than, say, Mozart or Beethoven, who can be quite complex. Haydn wrote 104 symphonies, 50+ string quartets, 125 trios for baryton, viola, and cello, 43 trios for piano, violin, and cello, and about 60 piano sonatas. A conservative guess would be that there are over 1200 movements in these works alone, with each movement treating a theme in some way. He is a constant joy and inspiration to listen to, and if he can do all this, with original themes to boot, and far more, without Christian Science (genius though he was), how can we entertain the slightest inertia or feeling of limitation with all we have in Christian Science? There should scarcely seem enough hours in each day to ponder all the angel thoughts which God sends to our side to "comfort, guard and guide". (Hymn #9)

22 comments:

Boston, MA said...

Bless your talented heart. A very fine blog entry. And besides being well-read, I see you're a music lover as well. Of classical music that is. And knowledgeable, too!
Keep up the inspired sharing.

C. T. said...

I've been checking your blog every day to see what you'd do next, and I must say, I'm not disappointed. A very strong posting, very helpful. Given all we have in Christian Science, we can all do more!
Thanks,

Southern CA said...

Outstanding blog post, in my estimation. Well done, from the arresting title all the through your discussion on our infinite possibilities as God's reflection.
Thanks much!

Anonymous said...

This is a wonderful message you've shared with us, and I do thank you. Aren't we blessed to have the divine truths of Christian Science!
Have a great day, blogger.

L. W. said...

my, but you're a cultured individual. Really like the point you make about, if composers can do what they've done, why can't we who have the final revelation of Truth do more?
Thanks for this one,

London (UK) said...

You write so well, as I've told you before, and it's always a pleasure to check out your blog. Found this one quite uplifting. It makes me want to dig in more.
With my appreciation,

Helen said...

Excellent piece here, and it calls to mind something our Leader says, which I am finding to be true. "Spiritual ideas unfold as we advance." I think this is an exact quote, but it gives the thought which to me, ties in with your topic.
Love and blessings to you,

C.S. (New York) said...

Oh, I really like this one, and feel some incentive to demosntrate more of divine Science that underpinned what our dear Master knew and proved.
Gratefully,

Betty (Tennessee) said...

You are so good at what you are doing! A friend read me this entry as my computer gave up. I found this very inspiring, and I couldn't agree more with your closing thoughts.
God bless you, and I know He is...

Honululu CS said...

Love this blog post. And your last sentence is so well put. This is going to bless your readers I feel certain.
Thanks, blogger, for being so devoted to CS!

No name, for now said...

Oh, I agree with you that we students of Christian Science certainly should be realizing more of God's unlimited power--for ourselves and the world.
Thanks for bringing this up to your readers.

New Hampshire said...

What you write on your website is a great blessing to me personally, and I imagine to many of your readers.
We need more like you!

Anonymous said...

A very uplifting thing you've put on your website. Love the thought of holy thoughts unfolding infinitely. Just think of all the wonderful truths God is going to be revealing to those who are earnestly seeking Him!
Thanks,

Janet (Florida) said...

Wonderful essay here. And it calls to my thought something Mary Baker Eddy points out in Prose Works where she says: "Seek Truth, and pursue it. It should cost you something: you are willing to pay for error and receive nothing in return; but if you pay the price of Truth, you shall receive all." (all is italicized.)
Thanks for encouraging your readers in this direction.

Thanks from Chicago said...

Appreciation to you, blogger, for a high-level blog. You have a mature sense of what being a student of CS is all about. Just wish the patients of mine were at your level!

Patrick said...

Such a helpful, inspiring entry. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

C. R. (Hartford) said...

Really, really helpful blog posting. Someone mentioned that I should check this out, and so glad I did. Solid CS.

Wilwaukee said...

Gee, you write so well. And always have the most original take on metaphysical topics.
Enjoy your blog!

(NYC) said...

I am a regular visitor to your website, and want to take the time to say, thanks, for all you are sending into cyberspace.
Good job!

L. S. said...

A very important subject you've tackled in your blog, one serious students of our Leader's writings will appreciate reading.
Thanks from Colorado,

Anonymous said...

Always like to check out what you've been thinking about. You put things in such a fresh way. Hardly seems like CS stuff we've read for years.
Keep at it!

Seeker of Truh in DE said...

Thank you from a latecomer to your blog. I have a fine arts degree, so this post was "especially special," to quote a dear friend. I love the insight into "mould and chisel thought," to mention but one of many I've read on this blog, which I'm now reading and sharing with others. This is fine writing, as is customary from the highly inspired.