Tell the Truth

Archive for May, 2006

This passage is from a wonderful book by an early Christian Science worker, Lillian De Waters, Science of Ascension: A Study of our Being.

One often feels that he is hindered by a sense of time. He feels that next week or next year more good will be disclosed to him than now, today. Abundance of good may seem to him to be in the future, rather than right at hand.

What is the vision of our God-self? Does this Self establish a difference between last year and today? Between today and a year from today? Verily no. To the spiritual eye there is no division, no separation whatsoever. Whatever is true is always true. If it is ever true that I have abundance of all good, then this fact is true now and for all time.

In the material sense-kingdom we have time, but in the Kingdom above the material sense, we have Eternity.

I’ve just come back from spending four wonderful days at the Plainfield Christian Science Church in Plainfield, New Jersey, which I will blog about this coming week. I got home to an Amazon shipment of books by a wonderful early Christian Science writer, Lillian de Waters. Among the gems was this one from a perfectly wonderful and insightful book, The Hidden Truth. In this passage, Mrs. Curtis, a Christian Science practitioner is having a discussion on metaphysics with Mr. Williams, a writer and practitioner who has stopped in for a visit.
<blockquote>Just think, Mrs. Curtis, if you should go to a well-known teacher of mathematics and say to him, ‘Will you solve a problem for me, or show me the method of its solution?’ Suppose he answered, with gentle reproach in his eyes, ‘I cannot solve your problem, but of course the principle of mathematics can. You don’t have to fear or worry, or in fact have a single care about the matter. I will just sit here quietly and mentally know the truth about the whole affair; that there are no mistakes in mathematics, and, therefore, you haven’t made any. This is my part to do, but it is the principle that will do the work; this principle that is pure and spotless will solve this problem for you, Only wait and you will see.’ Now, what would you think of this reasoning, Mrs. Curtis?”

“I know that would be absurd, of course,” and her face showed that she was thinking intensely. “Yes, I will admit, too, that I have treated my patients very much after this fashion, and feel that many practitioners do likewise. I tell my patients to trust God, or divine Love for everything. I say that we do not have to fight, we do not have to struggle, we only have to know.”

“That is true in its right sense. But your patient will get your idea which is: ‘There is nothing for us to do but trust, and shift all responsibility upon God, Love, who can accomplish all things’; and, do you know, that through this very wrong teaching, thousands of honest hearts are needlessly waiting, waiting. If you get any results at all from such a line of thought it is sheer blind belief. If you have faith in that foolish method, you will get the results of your faith, but it is belief pure and simple, and it is the reaosn that practitioners seem to reach one case and fail on the next; it is because I understand metaphysics that I know that there is nothing for us to fight against. In helping a student of mathematics we do not fight the mistake that he has made, but we do fight or righten the mistaken sense that is in his mind and that caused the wrong result in his work. So, in scientific healing, we should have some actual understanding of the facts of Being; and, as we apply these right thoughts or facts to the mentality of the patient and he accepts them he is freed from his mistaken beliefs about himself, and consequently his body will now reflect his better thought.</blockquote>

There is no such thing as an unforgivable sin; there is no such thing as an incurable disease; and there is no such thing as too late.

from Normal Class Notes of 1937 by Bicknell Young.

Those of us who grew up in the “old theology” way of thinking that we had to “get something” from God, continually fall back into old ways of thinking–at least I do.

In the old way of praying I might ask for God to fill me with His Holy Spirit, give me Light (understanding), make me clean, guide me, etc… In Truth, we are God’s reflection right now. We have all the Holy Spirit we will ever get, all the understanding and direction we will ever need, and Soul is as pure as It has ever been. Everything is right here. Right now.

Mrs. Eddy says,

Man is, and forwever has been, God’s reflection. God is infinite, therefore ever present, and there is no other power nor presence. Hence the spirituality of the universe is the only fact of creation. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 471:17-20

We are God’s reflection–not something separate from Him. Not a needy, lost soul who needs to beg for God’s mercy and forgiveness. We are children of the Living God, made in His image–Spirit, not matter; and in His likeness–reflecting all of the qualities of God, and without a characteristic from some other imagined source. God is All–there is no other.

In training our minds to think Truth, we must pick ourselves up over and over again, and point our thoughts in the right direction. This is such a privilege for us, and not an onerous duty–never a burden.

And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

As Mrs. Singleterry keeps reminding me,

“Truth persists–error does not.”

Our victory is assured if we don’t give up.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6

Mrs. Singleterry keeps telling me to go to God first–always first. When I have the smallest decision to make–what to eat, or wear, etc., I should always ask, “What do you say, Father? What do you think, Father? Father, what would you have me do?”

It seems that I fail at that very much more that I succeed! I just don’t have the consciousness, yet. But I do remember right afterward, as I also remember my failure. So whenever I do remember God’s presence, I offer Him my acknowledgement and praise.

Without His grace I can do no more, but what I can do to acknowledge Him and thank Him, I will, and I pray for the grace to do more.

Once Mrs. Eddy wrote, “The law of mortal mind that says our work, whatever it may be,will not amount to anything, must be broken. Know first that no such law can interfere with Truth. Second—that there is no such law. All law is divine and this law of mortal mind is only the inverted image of the law of God. Reverse it and you will find the divine law that all thoughts of Truth must have an effect.” Gilbert Carpenter, 500 Watchpoints, #487.

Truth must demonstrate itself as Christianity, it’s irresistible, so you can’t stop it: Book of Hebrews, Peggy Brook, p.85.

TRUTH must be demonstrated.
Truth is a quickening, creative energy.
Truth demonstrates all its propositions.
The Truth, as demonstrated by Jesus Christ, is a restorative power.
When you “know the truth” in substance, in life, in power, in love, in all its qualities, your body will demonstrate it. Dynamics For Living, Charles Fillmore, p. 110-111

Now, in our lives as we’re conscious that we’re spiritual ideas, and everything is lovely and rich and royal for us, that must demonstrate itself in human experience in the same way… Book of Hebrews, Peggy Brook, p. 64

The Spirit of truth does demonstrate itself in man. Dynamics for Living, Charles Fillmore, p. 119