In the ominous prelude we see Christian Scientists, and all mankind for that matter, slumbering restlessly, like Fasolt (in Wagner's Ring), with their hoard of ill-gotten materiality. Stupefied, deceived, and sedated by the bold and aggressive mental suggestions of Big Bug, too many had simply conceded the field of battle to a false personal sense of reality which had become acceptably familiar over the many years of false education, being unwilling and now unable to cling to the God they had lost sight of with their now blinded eyes. They knew they needed to wake up and rouse themselves, but could never get beyond an ashamed admission that they needed to wake up and rouse themselves. "Human hypotheses first assume the reality of sickness, sin, and death, and then assume the necessity of these evils because of their admitted actuality." (S&H 481: 19-22) Thus their willing suspension of disbelief continued and deepened.
The drama proper begins when from some unexplained source a fresh wind of Truth swirls across the land and breaks the miasma of Big Bug's animal magnetism. The mise en scene is best described by the opening sentence of Kafka's "The Metamorphosis": "As Gregor Saamsa [read each loyal Christian Scientist] awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect." What sporadic, lethargic, and indecisive confrontations with Big Bug had not accomplished the sight of those insect legs wiggling helplessly in the air had. Now many of these students of Christian Science were thoroughly awake and knew it was time to make a deadly serious, if delinquent, reacquaintance with the Terminator, the Exterminator of error, man's omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient Father-Mother God. The apathetic, cold-war co-existence with Big Bug and its personalized little bugs was over. Pages in the Bible and writings of Mary Baker Eddy long only politely and dreamily consulted were now examined and pondered with scrupulous, prayerful, and humble intensity. The stains of sweaty fingers and tears of remorse marked many of them. It was time to confront Big Bug head-on, but now, like Fasolt, he had been transformed into a dragon, in this case the great Red Dragon. The hideous and malignant nature of mortal mind was now fully apparent, and there could be no further putting off of its destruction. The tools of spiritual warfare must never again lie idle for a day.
The movie does not end with the final defeat of Big Bug. The battle of Armageddon continues and may be resolved in the next installment, "Health and Peace Restored".
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22 comments:
Simply marvelous. You are one gifted writer I tell you. This one is going to delight many a reader of yours.
Can't wait for next installment.
Bingo! I've been checking every day to see what you come up with next, and this one is a winner.
I love it. And so will many others.
Thanks,
A wonderful--metaphysical--juxtaposition of two unlikely antiheroes. Speaking of Kafka, and anent your last blog on the trial in S&H, if I didn't value my time and sanity I'd reread Kafka's The Trial. Thanks for your witty delivery of unchanging truth. Will be watching for the next installment
LowlyWise
P.S. Fasolt makes me think of Mammon in Book I of Paradise Lost: he is always looking downward lest he miss a spot of gold.
Well, well done, blogger. I love it!
I can just imagine something like this in the periodicals. What it would do for circulation.
Oh good. Installments just like with Charles Dickens. Neat!
This one is so imaginative (and true) can't wait to see the next.
A serious topic done in a most creative way. I'm working with someone in the practice who will benefit from this. Am going to phone her right away, to check this out.
Thank you for doing this.
This essay is going to delight and educate many of your viewers I feel sure. Extremely well done, and I thank you for sharing your talent with us.
Hi there,
You are showing off your learning (not a criticism I'm making) but it's all for a good Cause. Your blogging is a blessing to the Field.
Fascinating blog post you've got here. I've always thought the Times did the best titles, but yours are way up there.
Good job!
Tell me about it! Your blog post describes my situation and I suspect that of many other CS's. We do get to the point where we're ready to wake up, have no choice really when things get so pressing.
But how we drive closer to God isn't the important thing; just that we do.
Thanks much.
So very well written. I marvel at the way you address metaphysical topics. So fresh and readable.
Keep at it!
You write quite often about mortal mind and how it must be dealt with. I couldn't agree more. As Science and Health brings out, it it the worst foe we have. (Not Mrs. Eddy's precise quote here.) One time I looked up everything she says about mortal mind and I was amazed: it is vicious, make no mistake about that. Will terrorize us worse than any terrorist out here. So you are to be thanked for dealing with its removal in a well-written fashion.
I truly do like your website. Find it most original. You must be a creative writing teacher somewhere. If you aren't, you could be.
Have a great day (wherever you are).
Reading your excellent little essay makes me think of how fortunate I am, the world is, to have the spiritual tools we need to meet whatever the carnal mind throws at us.
Thanks for all your good work, blogger.
Speaking of mortal mind, I for one reader, am glad you have not disclosed your name. Just too many people out there who would not receive it with the right thought at all. (As you apparently are experienced and wise enough to know.)
I enjoy your blogging a lot.
Looking forward to your next installment. If it's up to your usual high standard of thinking and expressing your thoughts, will be worth stopping by for.
You're a peach!
God bless you, blogger, for using your talent to further an understanding of Christ's divine Science.
Love your writing.
It's easy (at least for me) to see God's hand in what you are doing. So much good going out to the world. Isn't it great having the Internet available?!
You're right--mortal mind can give us fits. But what helps me the most is our Leader's wonderful definition of both "mortal mind" (page 591) and its remedy, "Mind", page 469 of Science and Health. Powerful statements of divine fact in the latter, which I find essential to start the day with.
You are the best! Just love to check out your website. Always come away from reading your postings knowing more. If only words I've never run across.
Do continue favoring us with your talent.
Let me second what others have written about this: very well done. And can't wait until your next posting. Should be equally as fascinating to read.
Bless your dear heart for all you are doing to help our Cause. Or rather, God's Cause. (Just catching up on your last few posts. All so well written!)
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