Re-Minding you of the allness of Mind’s “infinite manifestation!” by Gary (S&H 468:10)

Resp. Rdg. (Hide-and-Seek): In the game hide-and-seek the seeker eventually finds the one hiding even if a hint is needed. King David may have played this game! He shared with his son Solomon, “if thou seek him, he will be found of thee…” And when Solomon finds God, not only has he won that round but has gained more of the true sense of wisdom and understanding ~ “Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding…” (I Chronicles 28:9; 22:12) Our pastor (Bible and Science & Health) provides the hints, treasure maps, we may need directing us to where God seems to be hiding out!

Section 1 (All is Mind): King David and Mrs. Eddy both understood all belongs to God, Mind ~ “…all that is in the heaven and earth is thine…” (B1) “All substance, intelligence, wisdom, being, immortality, cause, and effect belong to God…all is Mind…” (S4) Doesn’t that mean what we assume is “our” substance (money, house, car…whatever we would list on a financial statement) truly belongs to God? And “our” intelligence and creativity are truly reflections of God too. What freedom we feel as we realize we are simply the stewards of this abundance of thought and not responsible for its generation and maintenance. Responsibility is simply “responding to God’s ability.”

Section 2 (Understanding God Enables Trust in the Why, Not Needing to Know the How): In the story of the Red Sea (B5-8), God revealed to Moses that Pharaoh would experience a change of thought, pursue the Israelis and be defeated. Interestingly, the solution wasn’t revealed as to how Pharaoh would be defeated. When 600 chariots were bearing down with soldiers of murderous intent, the Israelis were fearful and complained about ever leaving Egypt. Moses trusted in his revelation to date and bade them, “…Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord…” Only then, with destruction immanent, was it revealed to Moses to part the Red Sea. How many times are we faced with a huge challenge and feel as though we’re going to be destroyed physically, financially or via our self esteem? If we understand the Science behind all (the why), we can yield our human desire to know just how our demonstration is going to work out step by step. Mrs. Eddy states, “Step by step will those who trust Him find that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (S6)

Section 3 (Physics vs. Metaphysics): We live our lives in conformity to certain “laws” like gravity and other aspects of physics. Can these be overruled? Yes, by metaphysics which supercedes so-called physical law when Scientific healing occurs. Meta means beyond which suggests Divine Science is the ultimate law. Jesus walked on the water and stilled the storm. (B10) Peter also walked on water. But since he merely trusted in the man Jesus without understanding the metaphysics behind what he was experiencing, he became afraid when the wind became boisterous and began to sink until he was saved by Jesus. Do we sometimes act like Peter? Perhaps we put our faith more in an individual (friend, spouse, parent or even a practitioner/teacher) than in understanding God, at which point we too begin to sink in our lives. What’s the remedy? “In proportion as matter loses to human sense all entity as man, in that proportion does man become its master. He enters into a diviner sense of the facts, and comprehends the theology of Jesus as demonstrated in healing the sick, raising the dead, and walking over the wave.” (S14)

Section 4 (Mortal and Divine Mind-Reading): Are we ever waiting for material conditions like the arrival of a certain person, the right place or the passage of time to assist in our feeling of wholeness and healing? There was a man who was immobile for 38 years who was waiting for an angel to stir the “healing” waters for his recovery. Jesus perceived his thought and refuted those material arguments so clearly with the truth, the man was instantaneously healed. (B11) Mrs. Eddy stressed the importance of reading mortal mind via divine Mind ~ an essential element of the “perfect Science of healing…” (S18,19)

Section 5 (Grace): “Find God’s Grace Within,” is the CedarS’ theme for 2003. In Science and Health we read, “What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds.” It’s interesting Mrs. Eddy didn’t say, “What we most need is grace…” but 1st ~ prayer; 2nd ~ fervent desire; 3rd ~ growth in grace. How will we know when we’re growing in grace? Ask yourself, “Was I expressing patience just then? How about meekness, love and was I performing good deeds?” If that exercise seems like a lot to contemplate, consider the alternative: “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” (B13) Who would ever want to experience confusion and evil!

Section 6 (6th Tenet): “And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.” (S30) Mrs. Eddy considered this statement as one of only six most “important points or religious tenets of Christian Science.” (S&H 497:1) If we consistently do this, the Bible states our reward will be, “…the God of love and peace shall be with you.” (B20) This feeling of love and peace was experienced by many even in the midst of the recent electrical blackout when human uncertainty abounded. But yielding to Mind (regardless of what name humanity may call the Infinite) revealed the Golden Rule in operation with mercy, justice, purity and corrective solutions prevailing in the human experience.