Friday, August 21, 2009

Sticking To A Hedgehog's One Big Thing

An impressive passel of almosts, of good thoughts and intentions, is not like a drawer full of green stamps [Doesn't that take you back?] which can be pasted into the books and eventually exchanged for a complete demonstration. Thought must germinate (spiritually) like a seed and emerge from the darkness and gloom of materiality into the light of Truth. The mesmerism of mortal mind would see to it one only puts down roots into matter, but never grows up and out of it into the light of spirituality.

Samuel Greenwood pointed out in one of his Association papers (1943) that we live in far more hectic and distracting times than those who lived in the centuries covered by the Bible (Note he wrote that over 65 years ago.), and this has deprived many of time desperately needed for silent communion with God. "Our life is frittered away by detail. . . . Simplify, simplify." (Thoreau, Walden) There is that philosophical distinction (first made by Isaiah Berlin, I think) between the hedgehog and the fox. The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows that one big thing. We need to be hedgehogs who know that one big thing: God through Christian Science. What's good for a fox may not be so for man.

Mrs. Eddy advises and cautions us to emerge gently from matter into Spirit, but emerge does not mean ooze glacially. Like Woody Allen's shark in "Annie Hall" we need constant motion (progress), but not unwise haste. Material man is not a chrysalis state in which one pupates, to emerge one auspicious day as God's perfect spiritual idea. Matter will no doubt seem as ugly, threatening, and fearful as it needs to to deep one in its thrall--if he lets it. We must, therefore, demonstrate daily, to some extent, that one big thing, the omnipotent power of Christian Science and divine Love, which are able to "unclasp the hold and . . . destroy disease, sin, and death." (S&H 412: 13-15)

20 comments:

Happy evening from CA said...

Up to your usual high standards. And expressed in such a fresh way--for metaphysics. Well worth a read.
Thanks!

A regular said...

Hi there,
I check your blog every night after dinner to see what's new. Really like this one. Well written, as they always are.

Hartford CS said...

Such a catchy title and solid essay. Like the point about needing to stay tuned to God and not easy in these very distracting, things whizzing by us times.
Glad you're blogging.

Fountain City, TN said...

I've said this before and no doubt will many more, but you are good at presenting Christian Science topics. And Samuel Greenwood is someone I discovered when I lived in Hawaii one day at the reading room. One of my favorite early writers.
Thank you and much love to you,

Near Boston said...

With your blog posts, I always like to read them over several times to get everything you put into it. Quite original writing, and your vocabulary is excellent.
Always a pleasure,

H. W - New York said...

Love your website. Get a lot of uplift from reading what you've been pondering.
A blessing to the Field, and I'm grateful to you, blogger.

Anonymous said...

Another fine entry on your blog. Knowing our heavenly Father better is the key thing, and to think of all the help He gives us to do this, through His Word and through the inspired teachings of Christian Science.

Thank you - Germany said...

Dear Author,
I am pleased that I found your blog as it is well written and causes me to think more deeply. I intend to read many of your previous entries as I know they will be of benefit spiritually.

L. R. said...

Like this one very much, blogger, especially the way you end your posting.
Keep up the superior work!

New England practitioner said...

Your blog certainly is a shining example of what our Leader mentions in Science and Health, namely, that academics of the right sort are requisite. You are using your knowledge in a very beneficial way.
Thank you!

P. J. (Ohio) said...

Good job, blogger.
Have a lovely day (wherever you hang your hat.)

Up and at it early said...

Gee, you write well. I commend you for using your talent for the best possible thing--Christian Science.

UK fan said...

Not to denigrate what other CS blogs show, but yours is in a different class altogether, in my view. Definitely not boring, which metaphysics in the hands of someone not talented can be tough going.
A pleasure reading your blog,

Appreciation, AZ said...

Following on "UK"'s comment, when a blog has solid content, who needs it gussied up with graphics? And yours is certainly well grounded in divine metaphysics.
Keep 'em coming along,

For the nonce, anon. said...

Have we a theme working here? Speaking of early writers on CS, think of the depth of what they were living and sharing. No need to add anything more than the healing truths their articles contained. What would photos have added?
Thank you for writing so thoughtfully,

CS reader said...

Continuing with our sub-theme, I've always been impressed that Mary Baker Eddy said at the beginning of her marvelous book, she hadn't tried to water things down (my words), that she had given the text of Truth bluntly and honestly.
And look at all the thousands of people healed by this book!

Irvine, CA said...

We just may be giving our blogger an idea for a future essay. But what I think is this, those who are ready to investigate Jesus' divine method of healing do not need aids to help them. They didn't in earlier times for our Cause; as experience as shown, they're not drawn in by colors, photos, dumbing down metaphysics today.

G. T. - Iowa said...

Really like this blog. Find it refreshingly original, often witty, and I usually learn new words!
Thanks much,

Edinburgh CS said...

To a very good writer,
Thanks for all the uplifting blog posts you've done. Goodness but you are busy. Have not read every one, but many, many and find them so worthwhile.

Impressed said...

Dear Sir,
I discovered your blog quite by accident. I find it very readable and something I shall return to from time to time.
You are a thinker.