The Way of Holiness

In her book No and Yes, Mary Baker Eddy writes, “Ever-present Love must seem ever absent to ever-present selfishness or material sense.” I can say from my own experience, that the combination of fear and selfishness kept me from feeling ever-present Love. I am grateful for a practitioner who rebuked the selfish, inward thinking, that no one else had addressed before. At first perhaps I did not like it. My pride was hurt, but I knew I needed it and it helped me grow, as it always will when it is taken in the spirit of love in which it is given.

I often think how Mrs. Eddy set up a Bible Lesson twice a year on everlasting punishment. My definition of everlasting punishment would be, ever-present selfishness. Selfishness is not our friend. I am so grateful to this church, where we have so many avenues in which we can freely forget self in working for God, because that is truly our salvation.

Mrs. Eddy has written, “Truth is as ‘the still, small voice,’ which comes to our recognition only as our natures are changed by its silent influence.” (No and Yes) That still, small voice is only recognized as our natures are changed by its silent influence. That is the way of holiness.

Getting rid of selfishness is one of the ways we gain this, and another is to let ourselves be changed by this silent influence within us. That is God speaking quietly within us. The more we do this, the more we are enabled to hear His voice, and the more we change, and our spiritual sense of all things increases.