Friday, December 18, 2009

Malignant Mithridatism

In at least one movie version of "A Christmas Carol" (wth Reginald Owen as Scrooge) the young Scrooge is a fairly normal, if somewhat unhappy, young man. The movie makes the point that his avarice, with its insidious and corrosive side effects, came on silent cat feet over many years until it had dissolved all his humanity and enslaved him under a cruel despot. He probably never realized something had taken possession of him. If error typically announced itself by kicking in our front doors and stomping rudely all over our mental homes with muddy hobnail boots we would certainly take the intruder by the scruff of its neck and throw it out on its keester. Except that evil more often comes politely, subtly, to the door of consciousness all smiles and a shoe-shine, with an appealing and seductive sales pitch, smoother than a hot cup of rich cocoa on a freezing winter night.

Setting a diligent and never-flagging watch is no task for the odd moment, but are we always cognizant of the terrible cost of not doing so? Not only do the little foxes spoil the vines, but as James observes (3:5) "Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" The slightest compromise with mortal mind is a very slippery slope whose dangers are too often obscured in tawdry blandishments. Our dear Master has admonished us ". . . what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch".

Ah, when to the heart of man
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,

from "Reluctance" by Robert Frost

We must also be alert that we do not allow ourselves to be bamboozled by the compromises of others, however much we might admire or respect them. We need to recognize a sandcastle when we see one, no matter how attracively caparisoned it may be. Quite by happenstance an exerpt from an old Sentinel dropped onto my desk. If I seem to be one who doesn't know when to simply give it a rest and leave my tired hobbyhorse to munch his oats peacefully in his stall, I can only say I would rather be condemned for protesting too much than too little and simply drifting along apathetically with the flow. I humbly recommend any reader's attention to the notice "From the Directors" in either the March 1977 Journal or March 5, 1977 Sentinel. My suggesting the value of context in a recent "poem" which touched on the now dreaded subject of full-text Bible lessons also seems to have been pre-validated by the 1977 notice. The sow's ears of grotesqueries and unjustified mutations, no matter how effusive the fulsome puffery which preceded them, should never be granted unquestioned silk-purse legitimacy.

26 comments:

Florida regular said...

Another excellent blog post. I really like this one a lot, and I'm so glad you shared your deep thoughts with us.

Susan said...

Your title went right by me (will consult the dictionary), but I do think there's much in this essay. Especially like the words referring to Christ Jesus.

British fan said...

There is no one out here treating of metaphysical topics as well as you do it, blogger. Very fresh and well worth my time to read your blog.
A merry Christmas to you and yours,

Helen said...

Don't you dare ever stop standing up for what is right about our great Cause. God bless you for writing the things you do.
A wonderful Christmas to you!

New England CS said...

I certainly am not as erudite as you are, but I always enjoy your blog posts immensely. A pleasure to read, for me, and I would imagine, for your many readers.
Thanks much,

Newport Beach, CA said...

A winner, professor. (And I do think you teach English somewhere.)

Honululu said...

Bravo! Extremely well written, and most interesting. Have a lovely Christmas.

None, at present said...

Enjoyed this a lot. Can't we see why our Leader chose those words of Jesus' to put on the cover of her Sentinel?

L. R. said...

Let me wish my favorite writer on Christian Science a very happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
(Check back early next year.)

Dorothy (PA) said...

Thanks for all you done to help the Field watch better. And like so many others, found this very helpful.
Well done, blogger.

Regular viewer said...

I just love seeing what you've been pondering, especially the original way you express your thoughts. Nothing like it that I've seen.
Keep it up!

E. W. said...

So much in this blog post to think about. Thanks for doing it. (Frost is one of my favorite poets.)

Appreciate you said...

Excellent essay. As I was finishing reading, something Mrs. Eddy states in Prose Works came to mind, where she speaks of tearing up mortal mind by the roots lest it be like devastating (think that's her word) witchgrass that chokes the coming clover.

A blessed Christmas to you said...

Dear Whoever You Are,
I've been a faithful reader of your website since way back when, and you have helped me so many times. Just want to say God bless you, and keep you sending out wonderful essays.

Long-time Christian Scientist said...

A wonderful blog post, and want to know what lit me up? Where you spoke of "our dear Master". Felt the love and devotion behind those words. DOn't care who you are, you obviously love Christ and Christian Science.

Anonymous said...

You are so alert to what is not in accord with what our dear Leader left us, and I thank God you are inspired to state what you see is wrong. We need many more like you, I can tell you.
Continue your exceptional blogging...

D. L. said...

Thinking about what God has given the world in giving us His dear Son, and can't help adding to that, my deep gratitude, ending actually, for the Christ Science God gave Mary Baker Eddy to give the world. The blessings I have had through its teachings!
Thanks to you for all you have been giving out.

Oxford said...

A fine essay you've got here, one that I thoroughly enjoyed getting to read. You do write very well!
A lovely Christmas time to you and yours, blogger-

NYC said...

I liked this, despite that second word in your title. What on earth that means, I have to find out. You are an original for sure.
Check back with you after the holidays. Have a good one!

St. Louis said...

So well written as yours always are. One of my favorite thinkers and authors when it comes to divine metaphysics.
Keep going, and have a blessed Christmas, and happy 2010 time...

CS Practitioner (Ohio) said...

Bravo. Another very fine offering. I applaud your consistent efforts to help the Field grapple with vital aspects of Christian Science, and realize more all it has to offer.
Where would we be without the Word of God and the teachings our Leader gave the world!
Happy holidays to you and yours,

Not far from Boston said...

A joy-filled Christmas Day to you, blogger. And thinking about gifts, God bless you for giving so much this past year in your excellent blog posts.

Greetings from Germany said...

Dear Writer,
I wish to extend my appreciation to you for the quite excellent blog posts I've been privileged to read, and to wish your family a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Susan said...

I'm back after finally consulting my dictionary to find out what mithridatism means: for other viewers, the production of immunity to a poison by taking small doses of poison. Interesting!
A very merry Christmas to you and your family.

Patrick said...

A joyful Christmas Day to you, blogger. And a happy New Year as well.

From Washington (state) said...

Thanks for the references to the 1977 CS Journal and Sentinel: I have felt for many years that it is better to use the books than to study from the printed text of the Lesson-Sermon (though I am guilty of using the printed text myself at times). It certainly seems to be coincident with Mrs. Eddy's views on the subject. I agree with the principle underlying this item, and feel that churches that allow readers to use the printed text instead of the books in their church services should reconsider. Thanks for your well thought out posts, and your dedication to the divine Principle of Christian Science.