Saturday, July 11, 2009

"Now, dear God, here I am, use me." MBE

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." So wrote Thoreau in Walden about a century and a half ago. Yet today millions, sadly including Christians, are still on the run, remorselessly hectored and affrighted by named and nameless fears and the ruthless tyranny of medical doctors and medicine. Christian Science and the omnipotent and omnipresent Father-Mother God wait with loving patience for those "honest seekers for Truth" who humbly submit to the leading of the "kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom".

This fad and that have become the quest of desperate moments, anodynes to quiet fears and pains. Mrs. Eddy wisely warns us: "A fad of belief is the fool of mesmerism." (My 218: 22) Multitudes pass their lives drugged, stultified, and stupefied by these beckoning fads, the unholy gods they have come to cherish. Those who have named the name of Christ can help: indeed it is their duty to do so. They must follow their Shepherd and in meekly following lead others by example to the peace and safety of the fold.

The growing tendency for extremes in all things needs to be stilled. There seems to be either apathy and lethargy or murderous fanaticism and hateful bigotry. There seems to be either drought or flood, parching, cloudless skies or violent storms. The monsoons fail to arrive or they come and put half a country under water and tens of thousands perish. There seems to be less and less evidence of simple normality. One is either a hero (and the threshold for anointment these days is about the level of, well, a threshold) or a schmo. And yesterday's hotly sought dosage, dram, or diversion is found wanting today. If Christian Scientists are not willing to unsee and correct these false beliefs, who else is able to do so?

"The true Science--divine Science--will be lost sight of again unless we arouse ourselves. This demonstrating to make matter build up is not Science. The building up of churches, the writing of articles and the speaking in public is the old way of building up a cause. The way I brought this Cause into sight was through HEALING: and now these other things would come in and hide it just as was done in the time of Jesus." (MBE, "Notes on the Course in Divinity") The source of this quote may be regarded as spurious to many, but the thrust of it rings true.

21 comments:

Stopping by from the West said...

Another excellent offering. Love the title (of course.) Who can write it the way she could! I agree that we Christian Scientists have serious work to do, that millions are in need of spiritual help and we have the truths that can help lift them up to God.
Thanks,

So. Cal. said...

Again, a fine blog posting. As dear Jesus says, the harvest is so great, but the labourers so few. And he admonishes us to pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He will send more workers into it. We have work to do as sincere CS's.

Cambridge said...

Your entry and the comment from So. Cal. brings to my thought something our Leader says (and perhaps one of your readers can get the exact quote for us) about there being millions of people searching for Christ, and that we should give them a cup of cold water in His name.
We must do it!

Patrick said...

Your compassion for those less fortunate (and oh how many there are right now) shines through your essay, and I found it uplifting.
Yes, we must do all we can to help turn sufferers Godward. He is a sure help, no matter what we face.

Anonymous said...

Very well written, and may I congratulate you on reaching your 100th blog post this past week.
Look forward to many more from your inspired pen.

L.R. said...

Dear Blogger,
You do come up with the most inspiring pieces. Always get a lift from reading your website.
Thanks, and God bless you.

Northeast CS said...

A previous commenter mentioned something the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science says in her book and I looked it up: "Millions of unprejudiced minds--simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert--are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name..." (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 507)
Thanks for your latest. I think Mary Baker Eddy would be pleased with you!

Anonymous, for now said...

Thanks for another fine blog post. Enjoyed this one a lot, also the one previous about the King James Bible. What we owe to those brave men who made the Holy Word available in the common man!

A fan said...

Love the theme of your latest. And the title. After all, isn't this what we're here for? To serve our loving Father better, and be a real help to humanity?
God bless,

London (UK) said...

God has certainly been using you, blogger. Have read many of your excellent essays, and feel they have blessed many out here.
Thanks much,

Appreciation from Florida said...

Goodmorning to you,
Want to comment on this blog post before I head off to church. Quite inspiring for me, and I imagine for many of your readers.

CS (California) said...

Appreciate the freshness of your blog. And the obvious devotion to CS it shows. Given all that God does for us, and considering mankind's great needs, how can we not step up to the plate and be more useful in life?

Cleveland said...

Thanks for a very well-presented website. You are a thinker with the writing know-how to get your ideas across.

Texas said...

I'm pretty new to your website, and fairly new to the study of Christian Science, and I appreciate the things you are pointing out. I'm learning more about the woman who founded the church and what impresses me is that she didn't keep the discovery of Jesus' healing method to herself, but worked hard to make it available to others.
Thank you,

Anonymous said...

Don't see writing like this in the periodicals, do we? I really like this posting, especially the first paragraph. How true this is, and to think with the help of Christian Science, people could begin to find their way to God--the answer for every problem that confronts us.
Thanks...good job.

Helen said...

I've been wondering, whence the title of your blog? I for one would be interested in why you chose this particular heading. Perhaps you could fill me in sometime.
In the meantime, enjoy what you're sending out.

Anonymous said...

You're such a blessing to more than you may know. I have certainly been helped by your website.
Do continue your high-level blogging.

Hartford, CT said...

Thanks for another excellent blog post. But then, yours always are of a high quality, well worth reading. And recommending.
Best wishes,

Little Rock said...

Thanks for this latest. I think there are some individuals who might think of being more useful to God, but they have to make a living, focus on finances. Yet, what does Scripture tell us? In II Cor. 9 is this assurance (which is divine law actually) "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."

Journal listed practitioner said...

Nice offering. It, and the previous comment, makes me think of something our Leader writes (and she was one who proved this, for sure): "...rest assured you can never lack God's outstretched arm so long as you are in His service." (Message for 190l--Mary Baker Eddy)

E. J. (Boston) said...

Want to thank you for the good you are doing for Christian Science through your many fine blog posts. And let me congratulate you on reaching the 100 mile mark.