". . . never jam to-day."

If you were to lament that the ship bringing in your healing or relief from some problem too often gets lost at sea, you wouldn't be the first. "The rule is, jam to-morrow, and jam yesterday--but never jam to-day." (Lewis Carroll, "Alice Through The Looking-Glass") We all have the same lessons to learn, but some of us seem to have a perverse and bullheaded affinity for more than a few of the attractions in the smorgasbord of mortal mind. It doesn't take much vinegar of wrong thinking or acting to sour the milk of Truth in one's thought.

"Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2: 10) I described in an entry long ago how some monkeys are captured. A hole just large enough to admit the monkey's paw is cut into an empty gourd. A delicacy is placed in the gourd, which is then tethered. The monkey reaches in to get the desirable munchies, but finds his full fist will not pass back through the small opening. The monkey will thus allow itself to be captured rather than let go of its prize and free its paw. One may be inclined to think "How dumb can a creature get?", until he takes an honest gander at some of the infelicities he clings to and cherishes "In the foul rag-and-bone shop of the heart" (Yeats), in the unkempt gourd of his material indulgences. At least some of us can be grateful that it is never too late to finish our job of putting error out of one, thus assuring that our ship unfailingly comes in.

Note: The quote "If you have tears . . . ." is from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar". Anthony is speaking, mordantly, at the funeral of Caesar. It might also be relevant that he says later in his speech:
They that have done this deed are honourable.
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it. They are wise and honourable,
And will no doubt with reasons answer you.

In fact the entire play has a measure of relevance to the Church matter, where, though, it appears to have been a mental assassination, not, obviously, one with knives or daggers. There is also portrayed in the play envy, conspiracy, and a touch of that old chestnut "Who shall be greatest?"

It was not my intent in that entry to drum up support, monetary or otherwise, for the group featured in the "Banner" (Novus Ordo Seclorum), but neither would I airily pooh-pooh their effort. The subject is, I believe, a real and serious one, but legal sapping of the disputed fortifications has been attempted before--unsuccessfully. I wouldn't go so far as to say they have embarked on a fool's errand, but there is an element of the quixotic about it at this late date. God can accomplish through our prayers what the uncertainties and limitations of the legal system, vis-a-vis religious and metaphysical matters, cannot.

"der Geist der stets verneint" -- Goethe

The aspiring and eager heart often attempts, falteringly, to soar on the head's callow velleities. Until overcome, "the spirit that ever denies", a Goethe reference to Mephistopheles, is a fierce headwind that requires the strong wings of an eagle if one is to maintain his progress.

One's duty to Christ Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy is not met by dewy-eyed effusions any more than his sincerity as a Christian Scientist is demonstrated by much churchly hustle and bustle. Are we really grateful, with "cor contritum quasi cinis" (a heart contrite as ashes) for Christ Jesus and Mrs. Eddy and not just tepidly thankful for the loaves and fishes they and others have lovingly set before us? One does not show genuine gratitude by hesitant or cautious treading in slippered comfort the path these glorious saints have graciously hewn through the tangled and vicious mesmerism of mortal mind, of error, through their unimaginable agonies, struggles, and malignant persecutions. The genuine Christian Scientist will march unflinchingly, like them, into the blast furnace of tribulation--evil's ceasless resistance to any spiritual progress--if he is ever to earn the Master's benediction "Well done, thou good and faithful servant". No disciple worthy of the name can afford to delude himself that he is cutting the mustard when he is only timidly cutting corners.

This does not refer to hypocritical behavior, which will reap the whirlwind, but to a more innocent, if that is the right word, self-delusion that says "I'm on my way" when the only activity has been a satisfying, but faint and illusory, flickering from some reignited emotional kindling. I accept that I may only be speaking for myself and that most readers of this could be well out of sight ahead of me, but I suspect I still have some companionable company "In that sweet secret of the narrow way". Christ Jesus said his followers would do greater things than he did. I would gladly settle for the time being for something in the ballpark. Congrats will have to wait for another day.

Note: To the reader who wished to share a testimony, have at it if the comments section will take it. There may be a word limit. To those who were possibly dismayed, or worse, by some of my comments in the previous entry I can only say a couple of things. First, the issue behind that entry is of tremendous importance, as any reader of that issue of "The Banner" knows, I hope. Second, we have been taught that "Error, left to itself, accumulates." (Mis 348: 13-14)--and festers. See the definition of "accumulate (v.i.)" in the Student's Reference Dictionary. Why should giving simple, clean, straightforward answers to or explanations of some sincere questions be so distasteful? The obvious "because" isn't reassuring.

"If you have tears, prepare to shed them now."

The largely successful desire to materialize The Church of Christ, Scientist, the Church Manual, and the administration of Mother Church affairs are in no small measure responsible for the Church's steady decline since 1910. This decay spread to branch churches as well, where there has also been, not surprisingly perhaps, spiritual desiccation and withering. Pride in edifices, personal status, and office, coupled with some old-fashoned cupidity and lust for power have, it would seem, set a comfortable and self-serving standard for the ambitious. The BOD's shameful playing of footsie with the Harvard Medical School a few years ago is only one example of this sorry behavior. Horoscopes, eriscopes, and Meow Mix are another, though somewhat shabbier, QED. One must be alert to the self-willed actions of moral prestidigitators who cynically employ out-and-out, but artfully gussied up, mendacities and tergiversations--on those occasions when one gets anything. Loyal Scientists might differ on the degree to which the above is true, or even deny it, but only a naif living in Pollyannaland could say it ain't so any more than "Shoeless Joe" Jackson could.

The catalyst for this mini-jeremiad was the Special Edition (February 2010) of Andrew Hartsook's "The Banner". Those who are familiar with "The Banner" are probably already aware of this issue, but others may view him as an unrepentant troublemaker. Except, maybe, for a few niggling jots and tittles his many newsletters have never to my knowledge been substantively refuted. He has been excommunicated by the Mother Church because he is a damned pest, not for irresponsible or inflammatory statements or actions. His facts are seldom reliably disputed, except for the facts of failing to praise the emperor's new clothes each time he outfits himself with a new wardrobe or, better, simply refusing to shut up. Others have tried to make legal headway on the issue discussed in the newsletter, but have been quashed in their temerity. There is good reason to believe, however, that this serious matter isn't just the vindictivenes of a few malcontents, sore losers, and crazies with too much time on their hands. It is a chilling tale that at least deserves a fair and thoughtful hearing, as well as our prayers.

Mrs.Eddy obviously knew that even as she breathed the sometimes poisoned New England air, materiality, materialism, had spread its tendrils into the ranks of the faithful. Some succumbed, some didn't. Each loyal and sincere Christian Scientist has a duty to "not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind." (Manual, p. 42) Period. This doesn't mean starting petty Hatfields versus the McCoys feuds over every holler of disagreement, but neither does it mean that a minority of even one must resign himself to agreeing with, conforming to, or supporting what he feels is wrong. A false, convenient peace only seals in the dry rot. Hauteur and Olympian disregard of the letter or spirit of any demand of the Church Manual are not likely to promote a vibrant and healing Church or reverse its sliding further into irrelevancy and obscurity. Sans refulgent and permeating Christliness in The Church of Christ, Scientist, even Satan wouldn't pick over the husks that would remain.

Note: A reader questioned the meaning of "Jealous Broodings" (the second entry before this one). Jealous as in "vigilant in guarding something". Broodings was indicative of the somber tone. It was, in part, a personal lament.

What's Anchored In Your Harbor?

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, like the Bible, is a wondrous book, the ever-unfolding, kaleidoscopic statement of Christian Science. Each thoughtful reading reveals new facets of sentences and paragraphs which have been read dozens, if not hundreds, of times before. Only eternity will reveal the whole of it. All that in a mere 600 pages!

An old Sentinel article pointed me once again to one of hundreds of S&H's challenging statements. "Whatever is cherished in mortal mind as the physical condition is imaged forth on the body." (411: 25-26) Cherish is an intriguing word choice. It is likely that its usual meaning is not the most fruitful one. Here are some others from the Student's Reference Dictionary: "To treat in a manner to encourage growth; to harbor; to indulge and encourage in the mind". The word encourage implies active support, which I would hope all Christian Scientists avoid assiduously. The word harbor , however, is passive--and subtle. A harbor is where boats seek shelter and moor or tie up. Are we unconsciously permitting false beliefs, mesmeric suggestions, to dock unchallenged in the harbor of our consciousness? Such beliefs may reside quietly and inobtrusively for a time, but eventually they begin offloading their malignant cargos.

God put his perfect reflection, man, in the catbird seat--gave man dominion over error in all its forms. To cede that dominion would be a sin. For many, modern, frenetic lifestyles seem to allow little unencroached-upon time for adequate study and prayer. Some may begin to exist on a diet of half-warmed Pop-Tart prayerlets which are grabbed on the run like a mail sack snatched by an express train (in olden times) as it sped by a small town. It usually takes time to calm the agitation of mortal mind before meaningful prayer, communion with God, can take place. Effective prayer is not a product knitted together in the odd scraps of time left over from a busy day. True prayer draws truths from the scabbard of the page, enthrones them in active thought, and thereby lets the sword of Truth guard and guide individual experience (S&H 538: 4). Sufficient quiet time for prayer often has to be vigorously scuffled for since the devil has his own malicious and false claims on our God-given catbird seat.

Jealous Broodings

"In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself in a dark wood where the straight way was lost." So begins Dante's Inferno. If I wished my fellow man to find himself standing apprehensively one gloomy dusk before Dante's awful sign, "Leave all hope, ye that enter", I think I would get him a Blackberry, a cell phone, a loptop computer, and a long list of all those who might want to bathe ceaselessly in the drone of his voice, the vacuity of his text messages, and the mindless chatter of his tweets. I myself would gladly take instead the skirl of a hundred bagpipes at my elbow.

It is hard to see how Christian Science could ever get a fair hearing in an age which demands instant gratification, incessant stimulation, and an almost pathological need for diversion. Even some mega-churches have apparently felt the need to juice up their services--heavy on toe-tapping folderol, light on guilt and slumber-inducing homilies--in order to keep their restless flocks from nodding off in the pews or slipping off to greener pastures and bubblier brooks. Christian Science isn't ever going to compete with false attractions, but that seems not to have deterred some from trying to attract attention to Science by forced or wooden attempts to be with it or go hip with the flow. Rather let those who have named the name of Christ be like the poor wise man, [who] by his wisdom delivered the [beseiged] city and be "living stones" ever ready to attract honest seekers for Truth and those possessing chastened and humble hearts.