Mrs. Eddy ascribes to the serpent many firsts. Unfortunately, we haven't yet witnessed the lasts of those firsts. Some serpents need to be decisively handled, taken by the tail. Others have a disarming gift of gab, the mesmerizing and deceiving power of a used (pre-owned) car salesman or a snake oil huckster. If we are not constantly alert and watchful, even the gentlest mesmeric crosswind can deflect our work and intentions by just that much, and even a near miss is a miss. Clinging to God with all our might will enable us to avoid error's subtle deflections with the necessary yaw or Kentucky windage to keep us on course.
"Things are seldom what they seem,/Skim milk masquerades as cream;/Highlows pass as patent leathers;/Jackdaws strut in peacock's feathers." (G&S, "HMS Pinafore") A hopeful, faltering, or wishful effort will not generally suffice, since as the poet says, "Faint heart never won fair lady!" (G&S, "Iolanthe") Ivory Soap's 99 &44/100ths % pure is still not the perfectly pure which may be necessary for our spiritual progress and healing. "Bad language or abuse,/I never, never use,/. . . Though 'Bother it' I may/occasionally say,/I never use a big, big D--/What never?/No, never!/What, never?/Hardly ever!" (G&S, "HMS Pinafore")
I need to remind myself often that the song of Christian Science is "Work--work--work--watch and pray." Scrupulous attention to spiritual detail, which is required of those who have "named the name of Christ", should leave no time for a bit of "harmless" canoodling with the serpent, a dalliance which can only result in being inveigled by its seductive whisperings.
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19 comments:
Extremely well written, as yours always are. Glad I stopped by just now to see if you were blogging.
Thanks much,
Some helpful hints in this blog post, and I appreciate your taking time to share your inspiration with us.
Really like this little essay. Worth thinking about later. Goodness, but you are well-read!
You express your thoughts in such a creative, fresh way. I always enjoy seeing what you've been pondering in your pursuit of spiritual progress.
Thanks,
You are certainly fighting the good fight where mortal mind is concerned. But you know what? We who have named the name of Christ are assured of victory. God will see to it.
I applaud you, whoever you happen to be, for using your considerable talent for our Cause. You are bound to be helping many throughout the world.
As I've been reading the past few blog posts you've done on standing up to mortal mind, rather wiping it out, have thought of something our Leader says, in essence, that a deep sincerity is sure of success for God takes care of it. You no doubt will know where this quote is, but it is so comforting, I find.
You do put out the most interesting essays. What on earth is a Kentucky windage? Looks like I'm going to have to look up quite a few words and literary allusions.
Such talent!
Love your website. A friend said I ought to check it out, and I know what she was talking about. Extremely welll crafted posts.
Keep up the good work!
Dear mystery person,
Another very fine blog posting. You do stimulate deeper thought on metaphysical topics, and I want you to know how much I appreciate what you are doing for the Field.
You are right, blogger. A miss is a miss, and we must keep pushing on to the complete eradication of all that would claim to stand between us and our loving Father. And Christian Science is the way.
Dear Sir (I think you're a man): It is a pleasure to read writing from someone as well-read as you seem to be. Not always the case with CS's, I find. This particular essay is quite well done, in my view.
Well said. I do believe our Leader would be happy to see a student of her teachings so in earnest about demonstrating CS.
It's so good of you to share your marked talent with us out here, and I almost always get something worthwhile from your musings.
Do continue, will you?
Your website is not only uplifting; it certainly is educational, at least speaking for myself.
With my thanks to you,
Love that thought of clinging to God with all our might. If He is becoming more and more first in our thoughts and lives, we will prevail over whatever the carnal mind may throw in our path.
I, too, like that "work, work, work" our Leader admonishes us to do. It does take a lot of it, and we're the better for hard work, in my opinion.
Enjoy your blog posts.
An original website you have here, one I always enjoy reading. I haven't commented before, and thought it was about time I said thanks.
Dear Blogger,
Your fidelity to the teachings of divine Science is an inspiration to me.
Love and blessings,
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