The Stars in the Firmament

Our Leader says in “Miscellaneous Writings” (p. 340), “Every luminary in the constellation of human greatness, like the stars, comes out in the darkness to shine with the reflected light of God.” A more beautiful symbol of spiritual enlightenment could scarcely be found than the shining of the stars. In the distant sky on a still and moonless night they appear as diamonds in their dark setting, each one a bright and separate spark piercing the gloom. Many of us may have pictured in our thought how the star of Bethlehem must have shone in matchless splendor to the shepherds of old to lead them, as it did, to seek the newborn Saviour.

The business of a star is to shine. So far as the unaided human vision is concerned, we should have no evidence of the existence of either planet or star except for the light it emits. To a certain extent, our own lives show forth our existence by the light we reflect or the shadow which our presence casts. We may converse with a hundred people during the day; but it is not their so-called physical selves, their outward appearance, which usually remains in our thought. It is their light,—their brightness, alertness, joyousness,—or else, as the case may be, their gloom, moroseness, depression. Jesus bade us, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

In Revelation, “he that overcometh” is promised “the morning star.” What is this star except Christian Science? It is the star God has given us through our Leader’s faithful inspiration. Like the “lone, brave star” of which she speaks in “Christ and Christmas” (p. 7), it keeps guard “o’er the grim night of chaos” into which are plunged many nations and peoples. To-day the world would have no hope of extricating itself from its seething sea of sorrow except for the fact that Christian Science has risen like the star of Bethlehem to lead us to the Christ, the Saviour of the world. We, in turn, must keep our light burning; we must shine in our setting as brightly, and as individually brilliant, as the stars in the heavens shine. No allurement of mortal experience must make us lose sight of our business of shining, even though around us the swirl of discord and discontent would seek to sweep us into its dark course, if we fail to guard our trust. The clamor of self seems to rise with dangerous persistency. “Ye shall be as gods” claims to be the promise of the hour.

Thus, the powers of darkness would wage unrelenting warfare against the spiritual light which Christian Science has brought to mankind. Nevertheless, in spite of error’s boast of power, our light, which is the understanding of Truth we possess, is shining upon a disconsolate world; and as we may picture the stars coming out one by one on a dark night, so we ourselves have our part in dispelling earth’s mental shadows. No earnest student of Christian Science would intentionally turn a needy fellow-man from his door, or withhold a friendly hand or word of encouragement; but, perhaps, not all of us have thought that it is our great privilege to be constant witnesses to the faith we profess. Many circumstances, indeed, have arisen which show to what an extent the light of Christian Science is beginning to be recognized by the world,—circumstances which reveal the fact that our light is shining even when we are least aware of it.

Much criticism of Christian Science has been silenced as the world has come to recognize the peace which is a marked characteristic of Christian Scientists. And that peace humanity sorely needs. During times of seeming danger and so-called epidemic, the calm demeanor of Christian Scientists has caused many to be attracted to this religion. Is it not letting our light shine to stand forth amid a panic of fear, fearless; to carry about in our manner, our faces, and our conversation the serene assurance that all is well? The calm of such a one radiates in the dark spots of the earth, and brings quiet; and the quiet of spiritual understanding banishes fear.

Wonderful examples of the “reflected light of God” might be gathered from our penal institutions. Here in earth’s desolate places the calm of Christian Science has entered, transforming even those who before may have seemed lost to common manhood. In one such institution the dungeon held a prisoner who was too lawless to be allowed freedom for a long time. He appeared brutal in looks, in viciousness, in insubordination. Among his companions his was considered a radical case. Where was the desire for spirituality in a thought like this, which could be reached by Christian Science? Yet, to that mortal the star of Christian Science rose. Through the Christian Science prison workers the calm of the Christ, Truth, found its way even into that apparently great darkness. The business of the Christian Science workers was to reflect the light of spiritual Truth. Theirs was not the part to say in which human breast the light was to bring forth light. Who shall say what the repose of the Christian Scientists meant to this prisoner? How like to stars rising in his path the Scientists may have appeared! How brightly the spiritual light may have shone to him in the Scientists’ serene countenances! And now, in turn, the prisoner’s reflected light shines. People who knew him in the days of the dungeon find but little resemblance to the one whom they know to-day. Beautiful of face, with the calm of peace upon it, he is still an inmate of the prison. But, oh! how far he has traveled toward God! He has seemingly little longing for outward freedom. He is free mentally. And in that darkened place his reflected light shines.

Can we, as Christian Scientists, afford to do aught but reflect the spiritual light our beloved Leader has made possible for us to gain? In the glowing day, in the darkened night, at home, in the office, wherever our daily tasks lead us, it is ours to reflect the light of Truth, that those who “sit in darkness” may, like the dungeon prisoner, find in themselves the spark of spirituality which may have seemed almost extinguished. Again, as Mrs. Eddy writes in “Christ and Christmas” (p. 1), —

“Fast circling on, from zone to zone, —

Bright, blest, afar, —

O’er the grim night of chaos shone

One lone, brave star.”