Be the Brilliant Shine of Soul! (“Soul and Body” Lesson for 5-21-06)
Metaphysical Application Ideas on the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson Shared by Kathy Fitzer, CS, of St. Louis, MO
Editor’s Note: The following background information and application ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson for this week are offered primarily to help CedarS campers and staff (as well as friends) see and demonstrate the great value of daily study of the Christian Science Bible lessons year-round, not just at camp.
We don’t need to be pushed around by the beliefs of the carnal mind, by world-belief, by darkness. Look in every section for references to light and shine and radiance. As thought is focused on the brilliance of Soul, the body can’t help but shine in the service of God. This applies to all kinds of body – the physical body, a student body, a body of work, a church body, etc. No heaviness, no decline, no confusion, no dis-ease – just the shining of perpetual renewal! Let Soul govern, and shine brilliantly with borrowed light.
GOLDEN TEXT: CLARITY OF VISION = SOUNDNESS OF BODY
In ancient times, rather than believing that the eye was a window that let light in, the eye was seen as a lamp which projected light. (New Interpreters Bible) Isn’t that what spiritual discernment does – projects mental light on a subject? (See def. of eyes in glossary of S&H) So, in order to have a proper view of things, the eye – lamp – has to be single – “clear” – revealing the “body as a sound whole.” (Def. of single and body from original Greek – Strong’s) This also reverses the world’s perception that sight depends on the soundness of the physical eye. Instead, the health of the eye (and all other parts of the body or one’s experience) depends on the health (soundness) of one’s view.
RESPONSIVE READING: EXPERIENCE THE TRANSFORMATION
Regardless of how things seem to be going in your life, you can experience a transformation of thought that will result in the freedom to move forward according to God’s will – which is always good. Paul pleads with us to live and think in a way that is pleasing to God. J. B. Phillips translates Rom. 12:2 as, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-make you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed.” As we struggle to not be boxed in by the beliefs of the flesh and know that we can prove (i.e. discern) what God’s will is, a change of view from the inside out will change our experience. Material ways – focus on the body, giving in to the carnal mind, and seeking material gain – lead to darkness (the path of death). Being “in the Spirit” we dwell in the light and every member (every individual part) of the body is found to be obedient to the will of God. Rather than conform to sin (appetite, envy, lust, disease, etc.), yield to God’s will, be transformed by Spirit, and find life and peace!
SECTION I: WALK IN THE SUNLIGHT OF SOUL WITH A CAPITAL S
It’s fun to think about walking in the light of the Lord like sunbeams “walk” in the light of the sun. (B-2) Considering the sun as “the symbol of Soul governing man” (S-1) helps us understand our relationship with God. The sunbeams don’t have to work to shine; neither do we. As the sun radiates light and heat (the substance of a sunbeam), Mind radiates intelligence (the substance of man). (S-4) We read that God, our true sun and shield, gives grace (stoops in kindness — Strongs) to those that walk uprightly – to those whose thought is sound. (B-3) The original Hebrew for the word uprightly also means entire – without blemish, complete, perfect, without spot. What a mistake it is to believe that the symbol of Soul – the sun of our solar system – could hurt God’s man, or cause him to be blemished. Mrs. Eddy makes an important distinction between Soul with a capital S and soul with a small s. (S-3) Soul (the animating Principle) is not in man, any more than the sun is in the sunbeam. We reflect (express) all of the thoughts of Mind, just like the sunbeam reflects (expresses) all of the light and heat of the sun. Material sense would have us believe that there are a lot of little souls, or personalities, dwelling IN bodies, traveling in their own orbits and being influenced by brain, nerves, heredity, environment, etc. But Christian Science teaches that Soul is Mind, and Mind radiates – sends out – its ideas to shine with “borrowed” light. It’s not our light that shines, any more than the sunbeams shine by their own light. (S-4) Soul – God – is everlasting light. (B-4) So, when things seem dark – sick, lonely, or just heavy and confusing – change your perspective. Turn away from a personal sense of soul and with all your heart acknowledge the ever-present substance of Soul – Mind. The light then breaks through.
SECTION II: BODY OF LIFE IN SOUL
Theology teaches that soul is IN body. The Old Testament speaks of God being IN the temple. But spiritual discernment corrects this misconception. After Solomon finished building an incredible new house (temple) for the Lord, he questioned the logic of it. How in the world could such a great God be contained in an earthly temple? (B-17) Shouldn’t we ask, how could Life be IN matter? Mrs. Eddy elevates the concept of temple with her definition. (S-6) The second part (not included in the lesson) describes what Solomon built. But, take a careful look at the first part. It is so helpful to think of body in this way – and remember this includes how we think about all kinds of bodies, like the body of government. Instead of a compilation of material parts with a personality (or soul) living inside, your body (or a governmental body) is a superstructure built on the foundation of Truth. Now, that’s stability! A shrine can be thought of as a receptacle where sacred things are deposited. Wow … a depository for the sacred things of Love! That which is sacred is consecrated to God/good and separated from that which is polluted. In a thought filled up full with Love, dwelling in the consciousness of Love, there’s no room for discord, decay, or corruption. Rather than soul living in body, we “live, and move, and have our being” in Soul.(B-8) We are one WITH Soul – as a drop of water is one with the ocean and a ray of light one with the sun – so Soul (Principle) can’t be in us (its idea) any more than the ocean could be in a drop of its water. (S-9&10) Mrs. Eddy says this is a LEADING point in the Science of Soul. So, we’d better pay attention! (Mrs. Eddy has a lot to say about temple in her writings. I’ve especially enjoyed Pulpit and Press 2: 22 – 3: 25)
SECTION III: GET THE SCOOP FROM SPIRIT
The physical senses can’t see God, so how do we get to know God, or even know for sure that there is a God? God tells us about Himself directly. In fact, God (through the Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit, or spiritual sense) tells us all there is to really know about everything. “The intercommunication is always from God to His idea, man.” (S-11) According to Webster, Intercommunication is reciprocal communication – mutual; done by each to the other. Matter can’t communicate – can’t feel, see, hear, etc. God – Spirit – does all the knowing. And is constantly communicating all things to us. Whether or not we hear and respond to what is being said (mutually communicate) depends on whether or not we “lift up [our] soul – our sense of things – to God. (B-10) God has shared every “secret” with man. “But the unspiritual man simply cannot accept the matters which the Spirit deals with – they just don’t make sense to him, for, after all, you must be spiritual to see spiritual things.” (B-11, J.B. Phillips) Forget what the physical eyes are reporting – regardless of whether they report healthy matter or sick matter. “Soul, or God, is the only truth-giver.” (S-15) And just as light destroys darkness, Soul (Mind, Truth) will destroy error’s claim that soul is in body or life in matter. (S-14) We depend on science to correct so many false appearances – we know the straw isn’t really bent inside the glass of water – so why not depend on Science to reveal man’s perfection, even when the material senses don’t agree. (S-13) Listen to what God is communicating about HIS creation and then see it in your experience.
SECTION IV: ETERNAL RADIANCE OF SOUL
Are sunbeams either young or old? As long as the sun is shining, the beams radiate – full force! The same is true for us. We are “planted in the house [the consciousness] of the Lord (Mind)” and we “flourish [blossom, bloom] in the courts [village, hamlet] of our God.” (B-13) [from original Hebrew – Strongs] How fun! As an eternally blooming, perfect blossom, we forever express beauty and strength in the village of Soul – complimenting the beauty and strength of every other radiant idea, dwelling together in peace. There is no “growth, maturity, nor decay in Soul.” You never have to wait to get older, or wish you were younger to have all the “vigor, freshness, and promise” that you need right now! (S-17) The key is to realize that you are MAN – an idea governed by immortal Mind. You’re not a body with a mind (soul) inside. Just like the clouds sometimes hide the ever-shining rays of light, the clouds of mortal sense sometimes “hide the truth of being.” (S-16) But the truth is still true, and we need to act like it! REJECT the common beliefs that present themselves (either as our own thinking and experience, or as the experience of others, or in the media) about life being in stages – “young” or “old.” Follow the recipe for beauty – less illusion (material sense) and more Soul (man governed by Mind), run away as fast as you can (retreat) from the belief of pain or pleasure in the body and find the “unchanging calm and glorious freedom of spiritual harmony.” (S-18) No matter how many times you’ve traveled around the sun – whether the world says you’re young or old – just bloom and blossom.
SECTION V: HEALING – A DEMONSTRATION OF THE FACTS OF SOUL
Jesus healed and expected his disciples to heal. (B-20) Paul told the Corinthians, “It started when God said, ‘Light up the darkness!’ and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.” (B-18 – The Message) It is light that destroys darkness and it is God that “pardons all my guilt and heals all my suffering. He rescues me from the pit of death and surrounds me with constant love, with tender affection.” (B-17- The New English Bible) So, when Jesus spoke to disease, he spoke with power and authority because he understood that God – Soul – destroys all things unlike Herself. Christian Science teaches us to heal as Jesus healed. “Christian Science is the law of Truth, which heals the sick on the basis of the one Mind or God. It can heal in no other way, since the human, mortal mind so-called is not a healer, but causes the belief in disease.” (S&H 482: 27) It is a “demonstration of the facts of Soul” which “resolves the dark visions of material sense into harmony and immortality.” (S-19) The healing effect is realized as the human mind is stirred “to a change of base, on which it may yield to the harmony of the divine Mind.” (S-23). We speak with authority. Soul masters “the false evidences of the corporeal senses” and asserts “its claims over mortality and disease.” (S-20) Just as we considered the difference between Soul with a capital S and soul with a small s, we must be clear that Mind with a capital M (the Mind in which man dwells and which governs the body) destroys disease, while mind with small m (the supposition of a mortal mind IN body and governed by body) forms disease. (S-22) This section makes it clear what our role in healing is and what God’s role is. Take a careful look at that. Then, bask in the “sunlight of Truth” as you would sunbathe in the light of the sun and be invigorated and purified. (S-23)
SECTION VI: LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
We’re back to the Golden Text. (B-22) Jesus was speaking to his committed followers when he delivered his “sermon on the mount.” We fill the role today that his disciples filled then. It is our desire to follow his example, to heal as he healed. So, here Jesus is explaining what our purpose in life is. As Peterson paraphrases Jesus’ words in the Message: “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.” (B-21) And continuing, “No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It’s put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they’re going. Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don’t get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.”(B-22) Remember, it is God is the source of the light – we are the children (or rays) of light. (B-23) So, whether we identify ourselves as students, athletes, artists, parents, executives, teachers, carpenters, plumbers, unemployed, or whatever, we share a common job description. We are the shining of God’s light. The candlestick may change (our particular role in life at the moment), but our purpose remains the same. As this light glows, the darkness of mortal sense is dissolved. Our job is to be the best transparency we can be for Truth – to eliminate cloudy mortal thinking so that light can shine through. Ask yourself, am I acting more like a solid wall or a transparent window right now? If things are not going well, it is likely that we’ve let “wall-thinking” take over. When that happens, turn your attention (your lamp) to Truth, eliminate erroneous belief, lose all faith in matter, get your light out of the drawer of carnal thought (body watching) and the darkness MUST give way to enlightened thought. (S-25) Keep washing the window, even if the dirt seems stubborn. The light IS shining! As others realize that they are missing something in their lives, they will notice your light and be blessed by it. Don’t be afraid to let your light shine in their “darkness” – to share what you know about Mind’s government of the body. (S-27 & 28) Just as darkness isn’t aware of light, “the world of sensation isn’t cognizant of life in Soul, not body.” (S-26) But salt brings out flavors already present, and light reveals good already there. So, we can teach the world – starting with our own misperceptions – of the relationship of Soul and body – and discover the whole world governed by God! We MUST “watch, work, and pray that this salt lose not its saltness, and that this light be not hid, but radiate and glow into noontide glory.” (S-29) SHINE!
Camp Director’s Note: The above sharing is the latest in a long series of CedarS Bible Lesson “mets” (metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians. This document is intended to initiate further study as well as to encourage the application of ideas found in the Weekly Bible Lessons as printed in the Christian Science Quarterly and as available at Christian Science Reading Rooms. * Originally sent JUST to campers, staff and CedarS families who wanted to continue at home and in their home Sunday Schools the same type of focused Lesson study and inspiration they had felt at camp, CedarS lesson “mets” are in no way meant to be definitive or conclusive or in any way a substitute for daily study of the lesson in the books. The thoughts presented are the inspiration of the moment and are offered to give a bit more dimension, background and daily applicability to some of the ideas and passages being studied. The citations referenced in the “met” (metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the King James Version of the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. The Bible and Science and Health are the ordained pastor of the Churches of Christ, Scientist. The Bible Lesson is the sermon read in Christian Science church services throughout the world. The Lesson-Sermon speaks individually through the Christ to everyone, providing unique insights and tailor-made applications for each one. We are glad you requested this metaphysical sharing and hope that you find some of these ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor.) Enjoy!
Warren Huff, Director director@cedarscamps.org
CedarS Camps Office
1314 Parkview Valley
Manchester, MO 63011
(636) 394-6162
