On Looking Up

There is a story of a primitive bridge in a far-off land which travelers had considerable trouble in crossing. The bridge, made by the natives of fiber rope, provided the only means of crossing a deep chasm. Before starting across it the trip seemed comparatively easy; but when the bridge began to shake and swing, those upon it would hesitate, doubting its ability to support them. Their fears increasing as they saw the deep chasm beneath them, the guide would shout, “Look up!” And as they obeyed their fears would abate, and the trip be easily made. To the student of Christian Science this story is fraught with meaning. In it he may see typified the process by which he can obey the Decalogue and practice it in daily life, together with Christ Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

To those laboring under the belief that matter is real, that it is the means to health, harmony, and happiness, and is subject to pain and distress; to those wearily looking for rest from the rush and clamor of daily life, Christian Science contains the key to true and lasting freedom and opens the way by which they may also share manifold blessings with others. On page 521 of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy we read: “The harmony and immortality of man are intact. We should look away from the opposite supposition that man is created materially, and turn our gaze to the spiritual record of creation, to that which should be engraved on the understanding and heart ‘with the point of a diamond’ and the pen of an angel.”

The “spiritual record of creation” is contained in the first chapter and the first five verses of the second chapter of Genesis. Here it is written that God made man in His image and likeness, saw that everything He had made was good, and declared His creation finished. Since, as Jesus tells us, “God is a Spirit” and since “without him was not any thing made that was made,” God’s creation must be spiritual; and as there are not two creators, matter has not been created. Matter is but the subjective state of mortal mind, which, in turn, is but a supposititious opposite of the one Mind, God.

God’s work is finished and complete, spiritual and good; and matter and evil are but erroneous beliefs of false material consciousness. As we cast out these beliefs from our mental home, exchanging them for the truth, we rid ourselves of them and become spiritually-minded. Realizing that all is Spirit, Mind, that only the spiritual is real, that every material belief is a counterfeit, and then replacing these false beliefs with right concepts, we are looking “away from the opposite supposition,” from the unreal to the real. Through love for God and His creation our thoughts are then barred to evil suggestions. As we succeed in doing this, we realize the reality and substantiality of Spirit, Mind; and false beliefs disappear. “Because God is Spirit, our thoughts must spiritualize to approach Him, and our methods grow more spiritual to accord with our thoughts,” our Leader says on page 7 of “The People’s Idea of God.” Pondering this sentence, we see that, once begun, spiritual progress must continue.

The journey we are making is our approach to God, Love. Confronted with the chasm of materiality, which all must cross, we need not hesitate. The truth realized leads to a higher understanding of God. Christ Jesus has shown us the way; and Mrs. Eddy, through her writings, has shown us how to walk in that way. During our journey we must look up continually, seeing others as God in reality sees them, never directing attention needlessly to those who seem to be making slow progress. We must always endeavor to see man as Love’s idea, reflecting perfection. Then fear is replaced with courage, and doubt with confidence; our steps become strong, and soon our feet are planted firmly in spiritual understanding. Thus we learn how to benefit ourselves and others.

Listening to testimonies of gratitude at any of our Wednesday evening meetings, we should rejoice over the spiritual victories over error. If a correction seems necessary, we may give it with love in our hearts. To hold a wrong concept of Love’s creation is to look down into the chasm of materiality, believing it to be real; and thereby we lose our spiritual vision. Our steps become unsteady, and our progress slackens. It is plain that if we obey Christ, Truth, our journey cannot be delayed by the failures of others. The need is to spiritualize our own thoughts and purify our own motives. God judges according to motives.

What a wonderful example Christian Scientists have in their Leader, and how fortunate they are to have her writings to guide them! After all her years of sacrifice, when some she strove to bless sought to injure her, she could write (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 277), “No evidence before the material senses can close my eyes to the scientific proof that God, good, is supreme.” What could better inspire us to press forward?