“O gentle presence, peace and joy and power”

How great a field of thought is unfolded in the opening line of our Leader’s poem “The Mother’s Evening Prayer” (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 389; Poems, p. 4), “O gentle presence, peace and joy and power”! How far-reaching the results if we prayerfully consider the deep meaning underlying these words!

The “gentle presence” of God, Love, Truth! Is not this the presence of Him who gave to Moses the assurance, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest,” and to whom Moses prayed, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence”? Moses realized that without God’s presence he and his followers would be helpless and have no desire to try to go farther. So it is with us to-day. We must consciously abide in the presence of divine Love if we would find rest and peace from the worries of the world. We must constantly watch that we do not allow error to betray us into forgetting that God is ever with us; for without Him we certainly cannot go “up hence.” If we realize the presence of divine Love as ever with us, what cause can there be for worry, uneasiness, doubt, or fear? On the contrary, these gentle visitors. “peace and joy and power,” will keep our thoughts and hearts filled with good.

On page 543 of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” Mary Baker Eddy tells us that “in divine Science, the material man is shut out from the presence of God.” If we allow unkindness, erroneous criticism, selfishness, envy, or resentment to take possession of our thoughts, we find ourselves shut out from the presence of Love; and this, by our own consent to false thinking. God, divine Love, does not shut us away from Himself, but by incorrect thinking we may seemingly close the door between Him and ourselves.

A student had worried over a problem of financial lack, which finally seemed very acute. She began to analyze the first line of our Leader’s hymn mentioned above. She saw that in her thinking she had been allowing false belief to take precedence over the truth; that she had not been consciously dwelling in the presence of God, divine Love, who gives only good, “peace and joy and power,” to His children. The result was a complete reversal of thought, with a prayer of gratitude for the light which had come. Within a week the difficulty was met.

On page 519 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, “Human capacity is slow to discern and to grasp God’s creation and the divine power and presence which go with it, demonstrating its spiritual origin.” Here is one of our greatest difficulties, the slowness of the so-called human mind in grasping the ever-presence of God, and the “peace and joy and power” which are rightfully ours as heirs of God, good. But when we get even a slight glimpse of the presence of God, “who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases,” we can prove to some extent the power of spiritual understanding in the overcoming of discordant conditions.

Error would divert us from the right way of thinking by intimating an easier, more pleasant way; but we need only to recognize the aggressiveness of the suggestion and refuse to be misled. Suppose one were traveling by automobile through a country which had a clearly defined and paved road, but another suggested that he leave this road and take one which looked more attractive and promised to be easier and shorter. If the traveler took this second road, however, he might soon get into very rough country, and this not only would delay his progress, but might injure his car. Eventually, he would be obliged to return to the main road in order to reach his destination; and he might have to turn completely around and go back to the point where he had left the highway. Is not this what we have to do when we wander through the paths of careless thinking? We get away from the presence of God, good; and soon we find ourselves believing in the reality of sin, disease, and death. Before we realize it, we may be in a rut of resentment over some fancied injury; fear for the physical well-being of a loved one may develop; a belief in sin may be entertained; or a temptation to listen to or impart idle gossip may be indulged. The farther we go the more real these things seem, the more time we lose, and the harder it is to get back to the right way of thinking.

But we can live in the presence of divine Love, and we can be conscious of the “peace and joy and power” which will solve our problems. Entire freedom, however, from false mortal belief is not accomplished in a day, a week, or a year. It requires sturdy effort and firm resolve. However difficult this may seem at times, there must be constant and consistent endeavor to see the true and to reject the false. We cannot rely on God one day, then drift into hours or days of erroneous thinking, and still expect to experience harmony. Yet, every time we discern the truth about a situation, we are so much the stronger for the next experience on the upward way.

If we waken in the morning with the thought of God’s presence with us, and carry this thought with us through all the day and commit ourselves unreservedly into His keeping through the night, we shall enjoy happiness such as Paul knew, and the peace of which he so beautifully wrote to the Corinthians: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”