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.
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22 comments:
Dear Christian,
This one is way up there high. What an inspiring essay!
You hit your latest right out of the ball park, to me. Wish everyone in the Field could getto read it.
Thanks!
In my humble opinion (I'm not the writer you are by far) this may be your best. Lifts me right up!
Dear Writer,
Not only would your Leader be happy with this blog post, I feel, but your Master would as well.So inspiring.
Simply outstanding! So glad I didn't miss this one, as I don't always check in.
Thank you so much...
Very well done indeed. Fresh, original, and strong. I would love to see this in the periodicals, but I realize you'd have to reveal your identity and I guess you're not yet ready to tell us who you are.
But in the meantime, keep sending out such wonderful blog posts.
A lot of inspiration in this one, blogger, and the thing that most stood out to me was being able someday to hear Him say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant." If this isn't enough to keep us at it.
A friend emailed me about this blog posting, and I can see what he was talking about. Very uplifting, so clearly stated. I agree with all you say, even to the last part about not leaving wrong to accumulate.
You're back on quite soon. Anyone who is fortunate enough to read this essay is in for a great deal of uplift, in my view.
Really good!
So many phrases stood out to me as worth reading again. You do write so well, and I hope you keep turning them out for us out here.
Such a worthwhile website you have here, and you just keep turning out high-level postings.
I enjoy your writing thoroughly.
Goodmorning to you,
As to giving straightforward, clean answers to the Church's problems, we know why some don't want to hear it. They are putting persons before what is right, their loyalties are askew, plus many of these individuals do not want to lose their titles and income. Sad, isn't it?
Enjoyed reading this inspiring blog post. And as to putting on testimonies as someone mentioned, I think this is a good idea. "Proof is essential to a due estimate of this subject." Mary Baker Eddy
I will be thinking of a healing that might help someone since your website is widely viewed in the world.
There's something special about this essay, and it just may be the sense of our being willing to courageously face up to tribulation, the way Jesus and Mrs. Eddy always did. What shining examples to keep before us!
I have found in my study of CS that God is an everpresent help to us in times when we feel ill. Not long ago, I was shopping for groceries and suddenly felt the onset of something like the flu. I found a chair and sat down to pray. The thought that came clearly was this from the Old Testament where the writer has God asking, "Do not I feel heaven and earth, saith the Lord?" I thought about something Science and Health brings out, too, about where Mrs. Eddy says to realize God is All, that there is no disease. I think this is from the chapter Christian Science practice. Anyway, before too long, focusing on God's everpresence, and keeping out of thought the mortal mind suggestions, I soon felt quite normal and went on my way.
I am so grateful to have CS in my life.
A very helpful blog post, and I liked reading that healing someone posted. I think this may be a good idea and I hope it catches on since you're willing to let your website be used for this worthwhile purpose.
Keep sharing your considerable inspiration with us. I get a lot of good ideas from what you write, and I am grateful you are doing this.
I, too, am more grateful for the teachings of our Wayshower, Christ Jesus, and all our Leader has given us than words can ever say. And later on, I wish to share a testimony on this website.
Thank you,
May God continue to prosper this website. I so appreciate all you are doing for Christ and Christian Science.
Here's hope you go right on doing this much-needed blogging on CS. How we need deep, clearly-stated metaphysics that do not compromise the message we've been given, just to please mortals.
So many thoughts in this essay that bear thinking about. I found many gems!
Becoming more like our Master, Christ Jesus, is the crux of the issue for Christian Scientists, is it not?
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