Saturday, May 29, 2010

Man Is Always "Safe above life's raging sea"

An injudicious flagging in the vigorous pursuit of growth in grace can result in experiencing the "foam and fury" of "earth's troubled, angry sea". It may be little comfort to the storm-tossed mariner that Christ walks serenely over the waves while he must struggle manfully against them until their unreality and the peace and calm of God's omnipresence and omnipotence are finally glimpsed.

Depending on the measure of grace or gracelessness one expresses, the storms he endures may be of longer or shorter duration and ferocity, but their falsity cannot delude forever, despite carking fears they will persist like that centuries-old storm on Jupiter. Life's "dirty weather", as Captain MacWhirr calls it in Joseph Conrad's "Typhoon", exists after all only as the dyspepsia which follows yielding to the temptation to taste the forbidden fruit on the tree in the midst of the garden.

Should one find himself flung willy-nilly, to and fro on an ocean of troubles, he should heed Captain MacWhirr's sound advice: "Keep her facing it. They may say what they like, but the heaviest seas run with the wind. Facing it--always facing it--that's the way to get through." "The foam and fury of illegitimate living and of fearful and doleful dying should disappear on the shore of time; then the waves of sin, sorrow, and death beat in vain." (S&H 203: 27-30) Resolutely facing adversities, realizing they are all ultimately unreal and powerless, will also aid in breaking the illusory grip of aggressive mental suggestions that things or conditions which aren't God exist now or ever existed.

Note: The last wicket in the previous entry was added on the spur of the moment and may be a little too cute. I think LowlyWise got it. It is simply Christian Science with Christ removed. The short-sheet also implied the need for study of Prose Works, the Church Manual, and poems of Mrs. Eddy, plus, of course, OLD periodicals, class papers, Bible commentaries, etc.

20 comments:

Stephen said...

Extremely well done, Christian. I really warmed up to this one.
Thanks!

CA regular said...

Another essay that hits the mark for me. You do write so very well.

Anonymous said...

God bless you, Christian for the good you are doing out here. Love your title!

Cambridge said...

You make allusions to literature and fine books at that. I think you must be better read than many of the Christian Scientists I know.
I enjoy your blog posts -

Ft. Llauderdale, FL said...

Inspiring essay. Where would we be without God's promises as given through the teachings of Christ Jesus and reiterated in Christian Science!

Thanks! (Ohio) said...

Almost always get something worthwhile from reading your blog posts, and this latest one is no exception.

Anonymous said...

A very reassuring title. A lot of comfort in this blog post. Keep up the superior writing!

A Brit said...

Thank you, dear writer wherever you are and whoever you are, for turning out such high-quality fare. Wouldn't miss your website for anything.

CS - Oregon said...

One of the things I am most grateful for in this life is what CS teaches about the unreality of all that is not good, not what God has made and would create for His loved children. Don't know how many times glimpsing the utter falsity of some mortal mind suggestion has cleared up the problem. Where did it go? Nowhere. Never was real, true or present.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for all you are doing to enlighten and encourage the Field. Your blog reaches much farther than you probably know.

A fan said...

Thanks for explaining your last "wicket" on your last blog post. It wasn't clear to me. And thanks for great essays.

L. R. said...

Know what? I just may print off all your essays in book form. Think they are worth keeping!

D. K. said...

I do like your blog posts, Christian!

Appreciate your blog said...

A lot of comfort in what you've written, Christian. How can we ever be grateful enough to our loving Father Mother God for the constant care He gives us!

LowlyWise said...

Thanks, Christian, for noticing my comment on the wickets. As to "…ian Science," I try to make a distinction between Christian Science/Science/divine Science, the teaching; and Christian Science [registered trademark], the institution. To some there seems to be little differentiation, but considering how the institution is given over to cuteness and superficiality at worst, disconnectedness at best, the distinction is well made. To claim the institution can do what the teaching promises, is folly. Vocally, I make "Christian" into three syllables, and run the institution together as /krischunsighens/ (No IPA symbols despite the forward slashes that indicate phonetic values in IPA.)

Points well taken in this essay. Thanks.

Frequent viewer said...

Dear Christian,
I find your website a pleasure to visit. Why? Because not only do I see someone devoted to the teachings of divine Science, but what you are thinking about and put into such clear writing often causes me to think more deeply about vital issues.

L. R. said...

On the issue of leaving Christ out of Christian Science (God forbid!), my teacher in Christian Science said we should never forget that CS is Science applied to CHRISTIANITY!

Thanks (WI) said...

An extremely well presented essay, Christian. Always enjoy stopping by here. And I will be back.

Hartford, CT said...

You're the best, Christian. Keep turning out these excellent pieces.

Anonymous said...

I love the title you've chosen for this particular offering. Very comforting to me, and I enjoyed reading the essay as well.
Thanks so much,
Love to you, Christian