Consciousness may be likened to a tractor (truck) pulling the freighted trailer of the body. Each trip which has progress as its desired destination will have a much happier and more uplifting ending if the driver (individual thought) keeps his eyes fixed undeviatingly on the road ahead (God and His spiritual and perfect creation), not on the trailer in the rear-view mirror. The trailer will always follow the leading of the tractor, so it does not need to be sedulously, and foolishly, watched, agonizingly tempting as furtive perusals might be. Just as the watched pot never comes to a boil, so the scrutinized body with its afflictions will not be improved. If one is dissatisfied with an inept ventriloquist, he doesn't correct this shortcoming by replacing or manipulating in some way the dummy.
As if driving forward while looking backward isn't risky enough, attempting to drive the truck from the trailer (i.e., using the material body as one's starting point and basis of thought), is even more foolhardy. One may think in his sweet innocency that no one could be that muzzy, but it can be confidently asserted that it has, alas, been tried. Not, of course, successfully tried--just tried. As Mrs. Eddy lovingly tells us, suffering or Science (and probably some of both) will get one back in the cab where he belongs and with God at the steering wheel of thought. "The sharp experiences of belief in the supposititious life of matter, as well as our disappointments and ceaseless woes, turn us like tired children to the arms of divine Love." (S&H 322: 26-29) It is thus that the tractor, and hence the trailer, will be directed to where they need to be and where, in fact, they have always been in their eternal spiritual perfection.
Note: The title, "What fools these mortals be", is from Seneca. Shakespeare's use of the expression in "A Midsummer-Night's Dream" is much better known.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
20 comments:
I've missed your essays, and glad to see you are back in your usual fine form.
Enjoyed this one a great deal...
A very good blog post. Love the words of our Leader of course, and I even learned something from your interesting title.
Thanks much,
A solid, well-written essay. Thanks for sharing your inspiration with the rest of us. Helpful, as always.
I like the way you think and express your thoughts. I want to read this one through again as there is a lot in it, I feel.
Thank you,
What you bring out in your first paragraph about keeping our thoughts fixed on God is right on. In my experience of studying Christian Science, we need to make time every day, in fact, throughout the day, to do this vital work.
Fresh, creative, well written. Keep up the good work you are doing!
Well worth the read. And thanks for translating the title, saves me effort.
Have a wonderful week, (wherever you happen to be)
Too true what Mrs. Eddy flatly states. We grow spiritually one way or the other.
An excellent essay here.
Really like this blog post, blogger. And it calls to thought something I read from one of the early writers in the periodicals, that we run into trouble when we have something beside God in our consciousness.
Thanks!
Hi there,
Again, I'd like to say how much I am enjoying your website a friend pointed out. What a pleasure to see a member of my faith who not only thinks, but can write very well.
So nice to see metaphysical topics dealt with in a fresh, thought-provoking way, and I do thank you.
Know what I like best about your latest? The very last thought about where we've been in our eternal perfection. That's really good!
God bless you for using your considerable intelligence and skill in the interest of the higher good.
Good job! Keep doing your best for us.
Appreciation for a way above average blog. Sure you're helping many along the way, not just me.
You have much deeper articles than I find in the periodicals (with the exception of a rare one now and then) and this is why I keep up with your writing.
Thanks much,
Inspiring to see such devotion to our beloved Cause, and efforts to enlighten your readers, help them dig more deeply into the teachings of divine Science.
Blessings upon you,
ALways a treat to see what you've been pondering. And then there's the way you put into words. Such talent!
Dear Author,
I first got onto your website last November when I read your Unfailing supply, fishers for men piece and thought it excellent.
Do keep going with your fine essays.
With that keen insight and writing ability you possess, I imagine another poetic offering is on the horizon. Do keep doing poems.
Won't be back before Christmas, so have a lovely one.
Post a Comment