Friday, January 15, 2010

Mankind's Endearing Heffalumps

I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on.
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will
John Henry Newman (hymn #169)
I understand this was one of Mrs. Eddy's favorite hymns, and with John Dykes' glorious music ("Lux Benigna") it is a barnburner. We may get it "our way" at Burger King or McDonald's, but in the Kingdom of Heaven we either get it God's way or we go hungry. On page 10 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy quotes James 4: 3: "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

It is worth noting, maybe, that the Greek word for lust in James 4: 1 & 3 is hedone (pleasure), the root of our word hedonism, not the gnarlier word for lust, which is used elsewhere in the New Testament, epithumia (desire, over desire). Still, our petty lusts will not entitle us to a "get out of jail free" card while the really serious lusters are squeezed mercilessly to the last farthing of suffering. As I have quoted before:
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us.
Shakespeare, King Lear, Act V, Sc 3

In Winnie-the-Pooh Pooh and Piglet set out to trap the nonexistent heffalump. To them it is very real, though they've never seen one. Mankind's infatuation with the heffalumps of matter and assorted fleshly nougats, which he thinks he knows through the five senses, is just as ridiculous but much less charming. Temporary material needs are one thing. A "harmless" sampling of forbidden goodies is another. Of course one boilermaker won't sentence you instantly to the torments of Dante's Inferno any more than the leap, per se, from a 50-story building will kill you. Floors 49 through 2 should be a painless breeze. It's the eventual and inevitable stop at the street that makes the leap something worth avoiding. For one given to sophistries and self-justification there may be a pecking order of lusts and no-noes, but a tiny concession to matter is still a concession and a smidgen of agony is as painful as a slathering.

If we truly desire to be worthy of the name Christian Scientist, our song must become and forever be, if it isn't already, "Nearer, my God, to Thee,/Nearer to Thee" (hymn #192). Those fond or wistful backward glances at the heffalumps of false attraction may be pleasant to mortal eyes, but they will, if indulged, rapaciously devour the Christliness within us.

Note: I appreciate the recommendation to submit the now not-so-recent Christmas poem to the Journal. However, there is the little matter of "submitted by". "Christian" wouldn't do, and neither would the logical alternative. Plus, the thought of having it picked over and scrubbed by editors is also not appealing, though it is highly unlikely it would ever get that far into the maw of the system. Thank you, nevertheless, for the kind thought.

Note 2: I apologize for the long delay between the previous entry and this one, assuming anyone remains to notice, that is. There have been a number of unwelcome distractions and annoyances to deal with, too much of Martha and not enough of Mary. It may not be the last time.

19 comments:

Missed you said...

You're back on-line and with a fine blog post. Glad to see it!

Ohio regular said...

How right you are, blogger. Nearer to God is the key to all things.
Thanks for sharing your inspiration with us,

E. W. said...

Welcome back. Glad it was only distractions. Thought perhaps you had taken off for parts unknown.
Good essay.

NYC said...

I've been checking regularly and I found a blog post from my favorite writer. Very fresh, well written, worth reading, as always.

Anonymous said...

Arresting title, draws the reader right in. Then there's the well crafted content to boot.
Thanks much,

London (UK) said...

Very good little essay you've got here. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Thanks (CA) said...

Glad you're still blogging. The Field needs material such as you contribute.

L. R. said...

Love the way you express your metaphysical thoughts. Either God's way or we starve!
Keep sending them out...

Around Boston said...

This is really good. So many catchy, original phrases jumped out, can't repeat them all, but what stands out is that we just cannot let the Christliness within us be overwhelmed, or chipped away, by anything mortal mind parades before us. Thank God we have the tools we need to come through.

Florida CS said...

You may have been off for a while but you haven't lost your touch. Extremely well written. (Don't blame you for not wanting your gems "picked over" by Boston.)

Helen said...

I want to say, God bless you for using your talents in such a worthwhile endeavor.

Anonymous said...

You're the best! Love your writing.

Appreciation from AZ said...

One of my favorite hymns as well. Thanks for an excellent blog post.

Best from St. Louis said...

good to see you blogging again. Recommended to a friend that she ought to check you out which I imagine she will. Our Leader says the time for thinkers has come and your website certainly does support this.

Nameless (for now) said...

Always enjoy reading what you've been thinking about. And you do express things so clearly and winningly. (Are you thinking about revealing yourself to your adoring public?)

Newport Beach, CA said...

I do so enjoy reading a lively blog on Christian Science, and I'm grateful you are doing what you're doing.
Keep it up!

Patrick said...

You are one interesting writer on CS! Always have to read through your essays a few times so as not to miss the fascinating phrases and words. (Hope you're not struggling too much with the "nougats of flesh"! Smiley face here.

Regular (Northeast) said...

Something comes to mind as I read through this essay, and some of the latest ones you've been doing, and this is 2 truths from the Bible that might help your readers who are battling mortal mind/materality -- the first where our Wayshower points out that without him, without Christ, we can do nothing. Then where Paul says, he could do everything through Christ which gave him strength. I think less intellectualizing and struggling, and more laying burdens at His feet would do a lot.
Thanks for your blogging.

L. R. said...

Dear Blogger,
I not only enjoy your blog posts, they help me a lot. And as to sending in things to the periodicals, you would sure liven things up. I think you're too modest. I bet they'd take your stuff. Why not try it?