“A Haughty Spirit”

The Bible says, “Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16) I had an illustration of that recently.

I had been disturbed about something and decided to go out for a walk. Halfway along the walk, I tripped and fell. At first I was upset at myself and felt foolish. As I hobbled back to my house, I held my thought to the Ninety-first Psalm.

When I got home, I picked up the Lesson for that week, and that quote from Proverbs was in the Lesson! I realized this was a wake-up call.

I looked up “haughty,” and it said, “easily ignited.” I also came across the word “contempt,” which is “harsh criticism, judgment, feeling lack of respect, disapproval.” I realized I had been harboring these feelings, and holding a negative attitude toward someone. It was a subtle habit that I had permitted to go on unchallenged.

I also came across this quote in Kimball’s Teaching and Addresses: “The one important thing for me to do is to know this: that you are entitled to my compassionate consideration; you are entitled to my respect; you are entitled to my applause for all that you do that is in the right direction; you are entitled to my kindest wishes, to my deepest encouragement; and you are entitled to nothing from me but that which means love, charity, loving-kindness, and you must not get anything else from me.”

The next morning I called a Plainfield practitioner for help, since I was still in pain. I also confessed my attitude of contempt and my desire to be free of it. The practitioner reminded me that it’s the one who hates that suffers. It also was not in line with my desire to serve God with my whole heart, mind, and soul.

The pain lessened, so that I was able to perform all my duties; and by the third day, it was completely gone and I was healed.

What a wonderful healing, and a wonderful lesson — to make sure I’m always expressing Christly love. Mrs. Eddy says, “Remember, thou canst be brought into no condition, be it ever so severe, where Love has not been before thee and where its tender lesson is not awaiting thee.” (My. 149)