Here’s Ken Cooper’s Poetic Prelude for
The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“Christian Science”
for June 21-27, 2021
[Ken Cooper, a CedarS Met subscriber and contributor, from the United Kingdom wrote a poem, “Christian Science Practice” that was published in The Christian Science Journal. He just shared how connected this poem is to this week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson when he wrote:] “How’s this for a fundamental rule: “Whatever exists can be found”. Its corollary is also true. All discoveries are the recognition of what already exists, and if God did not make it, it doesn’t (exist)! When we start with God, Life, Truth, Love, Mind, Soul, Mind, Spirit, Principle, these have always existed as One, and can be found. “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1 to 1st,) is the fundamental fact that lies behind all discovery, – the presence of God made manifest as man, through the Christ, always speaking: “Christ is the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness.” (SH 332:9–11 Christ). It was made flesh in the life and demonstration of Christ Jesus. It was made accessible to everyone by the discovery and practical proof, its Science, in the life of Mary Baker Eddy, who brought Christ and Science together for our understanding, and forever comfort, as they had always been with God.
The Golden Text (Jeremiah) reads “..the word of the Lord came to me, saying…I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” And we express this knowledge and understanding as God’s image. Without Jesus we would not understand Christ. Without Mary Baker Eddy, we would not understand Christian Science. The Word brings together these two elements of Christ and Science. “and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1:1 and). Mary Baker Eddy found what was in the beginning, and is always now, and shared her discovery with all prepared to learn of it.
The demonstration of Christian Science requires humility. Perfect humility s is the true understanding which Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy so encapsulated, – and the clarity of “I can of mine own self do nothing”, that when we love, the Love of the Father is proved in our experience, and it is that Love which always heals. My journal-shared poem “Christian Science Practice” shares the importance of humility, – the fundamental that “God and man are one.”
The second verse includes the couplet: “Mind is all, all there is that ever I can know, So let this healing truth through consciousness just flow.”
This takes away all sense of self, and lets the One Mind be fully expressed as man, – what we are and all that we do. With this understanding, nothing will be impossible, for God has already approved and does all good. Mrs Eddy makes this so clear: “When man is governed by God, the ever-present Mind who understands all things, man knows that with God all things are possible.” (cit. S20/180:25)What a beautiful promise this gives to each of us, and when we look at the example that Mrs. Eddy has given us, what clearer proof could we ask for!
The third verse of the poem shared also reaffirms the words of Ezra in the Responsive Reading in praise of God: “Now let Christ-practice unfold as morning light, In gratitude rejoicing in God’s eternal might”.
“Action expresses more gratitude than speech”(S&H, p. 3:26). The revelation of Christian Science is indeed a source of constant rejoicing, for a grain of truth, a grain of yeast, is indeed adequate to prove the whole, and it is in the proving, in the action of God through man, that the Science of Christianity is made plain, and bears fruit (cit. S30/348:26).
The knowledge and understanding referred to in the Golden Text links to what Jesus referred to when he said “He that believeth in me”, – the result of this believing, this understanding, is his promise and expectation for us all, “ the works that I do shall he do also.” (cit. S16/326:4-5) This practical demonstration is Christian Science in action.
A copy of the journal poem can be seen as a pdf at the top of this week’s metaphysical article.
Other poems can be found on my website kengcooperpoetry.com. You can write to me at kengcooper@btinternet.com”
