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Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Weekly Bible Lesson for Nov. 12-18, 2007 on “Mortals and Immortals” — prepared by Kathy Fitzer, C.S. of St. Louis, MO
Editor’s Note: The following 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 and application of the Christian Science Bible lessons year-round, not just at camp! You can sign up to have them emailed to you free — in English by Monday or in French or Spanish by Wednesday: SIGN UP at www.cedarscamps.org/metaphysical/ FOR FREE TRANSLATIONS.
Let’s think simply. Mortal means to be subject to death. Immortal means to not be subject to death. Death (mortality) involves stoppage. My Bible Lesson points out that mortality always includes conflict, division, rivalry, and hate. To counter whatever in your life seems to be blocked (or coming to a screeching halt) – work, memory, a social life, health, or even human life itself – understand that mortality is the dream of separation from God. You are not mortal. You are not subject to death. You are immortal! To counter conflict – individually, within families, or between countries, – the key is to awaken to see the immortality of ALL as the children of ONE God. The key is to live the love of Christ! [Possible, Uplifting Sunday School Homework or (P.U.S.S.H.): This week do all you can to receive and live the love of Christ that puts an end to all conflicts and supposed stoppage of right activity.]
Golden Text: [Don’t accept an expiration date for us – or for any good.]
If God is from everlasting – eternal – continuing without intermission – how can WE die? How can life and good really stop? How can there really be conflict? God, good, is everlasting – is ALL! [Possible Sunday School Topic (P.S.S.T!): What “expiration date” (or death) of something good are you buying into, accepting and expecting? Instead, affirm that “All the good the past hath had remains to make our own time glad.” CS Hymnal 238:2]
Responsive Reading: [Get back on track! Mind and repair the (supposed) gaps!]
Ever feel a bit hopeless? [Or lost?] Feel like [“withered”} grass that gets trampled and mulched? That’s the flesh report. But, you don’t have to live in the flesh! Choose to faithfully dwell (keep your thought) in the high place of Christ, and you will find that you are not only fruitful [and divinely guided] yourself, but will be able to help and bless others, too. [You’ll be called “the restorer of paths to dwell in” – like a spiritual GPS navigation system.] God’s Word is permanent. God’s Word restores, heals, and comforts the humble and contrite. Just acknowledge God and accept His glory and beauty. It is for everyone [-” in all generations!” P.S.S.T! How about making this a “grand” day by bringing comfort and love to a grandparent or grandchild? As you mend this so-called generation gap or “breach,” you’ll more fully see and demonstrate the continuity of good and immortality of all.]
Section 1: Come Out of Darkness into Light!
Is darkness a real thing, or just the absence of light? (S-4) When you’re in the middle of it, darkness may seem not only real, but permanent and scary! But, flip the switch and the darkness immediately yields to the light. Sounds easy – unless you don’t know there’s a switch. We’re walking in darkness all the time – as long as we believe we are mortal, subject to flesh and death (any stoppage of harmonious action.) The Bible speaks of God’s Word (Christ) as a lamp, a light. Look at all the verbs – all the things God DOES for us! (B-2, 3, 4) Are we grateful? (B-4) Give gratitude for what God HAS done for anyone at any time, because if you acknowledge that God’s light has brought anyone out of darkness, you’ve at least acknowledged that there is a switch. Science and Health explains that the darkness is material sense – the report of the five physical senses. Even if these senses report that something is good, there is a danger that the good can end – can crumble. Science (Truth) “reverses the evidence of the material senses.” It shows good to be permanent. It explains the relationship of God and man as inseparable, harmonious, eternal. (S-5) The five senses say that we are both matter and mind, somehow combined. This is what it looks like when you’re stumbling around in the dark. But, Christian Science explains that man (the man that is always YOU and is seen in the light of Truth) is the idea of God. (S-2) An idea can only have the substance of the Mind that forms it. So, Truth (the Word of God) is constantly offering light. The switch is there – and it is even illumined. And Christ urges your eyes to open up and see it! Opening your eyes expands your view. Dropping the mental swaddling clothes (the binding that keeps you in the ignorant mentality of a chaotic mortal) opens up a whole new world of light and order. (S-1) [P.U.S.S.H! During this Thanksgiving season, daily express gratitude for what you cherish most. Make it a point to thank someone today. Remember that your “gratitude outlaws blindness to present good,” and lights up your life and the lives of others.]
Section 2: Don’t settle for an (unrefined) Quick Fix!
Are you willing to wait for God’s promise (covenant) to be fulfilled? Sarai and Abram weren’t. And look where it got them! God had promised Abram an heir. Sarai, letting fear in, used her physical senses and said, “I’m not getting any younger; we need to do something!” And Abram went right along with the idea, taking advantage of Hagar. (B-5) It seemed easy – a quick fix. But, it resulted in resentment, anger, and estrangement. Are we tempted to be more concerned with finding a quick solution, than obediently and patiently watching good unfold? Mortality is always focused on time constraints. Immortality assures us of the unlimited and timeless nature of Good. Darkness closes in; light expands. The root of the problem was the belief that propagation is the responsibility of mortals. Maybe that gets to the root of any problem – believing that we, as mortals, are responsible for success! (S-8) Malachi explains war and conflict as resulting from breaking our promise to obey God’s laws. We all have ONE Father. (B-6) And, it is promised that the Christ (God’s messenger) will appear to purify the people and teach them to be obedient. (B-7 & S-9) Perhaps this was Sarai and Abram’s “furnace time.” (S-6) [See the Appendix for more on how a patient, silver refiner is like a s’more marshmallow roaster.] The quick fix didn’t work out as Abram and Sarai had hoped (does it ever?) and they were now better prepared to truly receive the Christ, Truth. (S-10) We don’t always take the most direct route to a desired end. But, hopefully every detour teaches us something and gradually we “gravitate Godward, [our] affections and aims grow spiritual” and we put off “sin and mortality.” As we desire to continually ask the question, “What would you have me do right now, Father/Mother God?” and are willing to respond to Christ’s direction, we won’t lose our sense of identity, but find an “enlarged individuality, a wider sphere of thought and action, a more expansive love, a higher and more permanent peace.” (S-11) That’s worth the patience and obedience! [P.S.S.T! What Quick Fixes are trying to appeal to you? Acquiring possessions? Medical procedures? Instant gratification of the senses? How can dedication to solutions that demands daily prayer and devotion of thought bring about better, long-term solutions and a” more permanent peace?” (S11)]
Section 3: A Second Chance; A Name Change; and Prosperity Promised to ALL!
Thirteen years after Ishmael was born, God again spoke to Abram. God promised to give Abram and Sarai more children and that their offspring would occupy Canaan – the Promised Land into which the “children of Israel” entered after leaving Egypt. Their names were changed to Sarah and Abraham – symbolic of a change in character. Although Abraham’s first reaction was to laugh at God for suggesting that he and Sarah could have another child at 100 and 90 years of age, he went on to ask God what was to become of Ishmael (the son we read about in section two.) God promised that BOTH Ishmael and Isaac would be blessed and establish nations. (B-9) They did. Ishmael is acknowledged as the father of the Arab nation, and Isaac (whose son was Jacob, later called Israel) is acknowledged as a father of the Jewish nation. Remember, God promised prosperity and peace to ALL. (B-10) So, why aren’t we seeing this prosperity and peace for everyone? God hasn’t changed! But, have we stuck to our part of the covenant, “walk before me and be thou perfect?” Dummelow suggest that this means that we are to be “always conscious of His presence, and living a whole-hearted, upright life.” (B-9&11) We could say that by putting our own, limited views ahead of God’s view closes our eyes to the light. We become engulfed in the darkness of mortal measurements – land, body, personality. The key to cohesive living – within our own experience (including within our bodies), and in a global sense – is to understand that “all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love.” (S-12) We tend to limit ourselves by thinking in terms of comparisons and differences: gender; age (too young or too old); religious denominations (whose truth is the most true?); culture and life-style (whose way of life is the most right?); or even parentage (was your family “loving” or “dysfunctional?”; birth order; etc.) (S-12 &14) The point is, all things are “equalized” as we learn to re-think things! We can be perfect – whole, complete – as we stop limiting and comparing, as we look away from material measurements and differences, including material regions of the earth, and start identifying with Mind and Life as the law that governs ALL! (S-13) We shouldn’t laugh at anything God suggests can be done. His covenant is intact. Let’s work to hold up our end of walking before Him and being perfect. (B-9) [P.S.S.T! How can you unlimit yourself today by thinking beyond competitive comparisons and differences to include ALL mankind in your affection? What daily steps of inclusivity can you take to be ready to answer the call to help uplift and unify all mankind? “Day by day the understanding of our oneness shall increase” (See all of CS Hymn #157)]
Section 4: Unity through Christ – the Seed of Abraham
Is the seed of Abraham made up of mortal personalities – limited, conflicting, struggling in the dark? Hardly! Paul points out in his letter to the Galatians that God’s promise was made to Abraham and his seed, not seeds. (B-12) That’s singular! Galatia (northern Asia Minor) was swept with turmoil and competing belief systems. But, Paul continually emphasized a fresh view – the unity of Christ, Truth. The “old” way involves judging according to the flesh – race, religion, nationality (which we could extend to gender, intelligence, physique…) The “new” way is to see all as united in the purity of the perfect (complete) idea of God – Christ! (B-13) Before Paul, Jesus ventured into non-Jew territories, too. (B-14) At a quick glance it would seem Jesus was being very narrow-minded, telling the woman of Canaan that he couldn’t help her because she wasn’t Jewish. Historically, the Canaanites hated the Jews because the Jews had been ordered to exterminate them when they had first come into the Promised Land. Yet, this woman humbly let go of that prejudice and asked Jesus (the son of David) to heal her daughter. She looked beyond personality and nationality and saw the Christ – the ideal man in whom we all unite. She refused to be dissuaded by Jesus calling her a dog (a term used to describe heathens.) She turned it back on him, insinuating that as a dog in the house, she should still receive crumbs. Acknowledging the woman’s faith, Jesus healed her daughter. What a wonderful lesson for the disciples, and for us! Truth reverses what we have learned from error, just as it reversed what the people of that time had learned. As “man’s real existence as a child of God comes to light” division will be transformed to inclusion. (S-16) And this inclusion is evidenced in a sound body, as well. We are ONE. What can we learn from this woman’s persistence and faith? When tempted by sin or sickness, CLING to God and His idea. (S-20) Never take no for an answer! This woman refused to accept herself as inferior or her daughter as outside of Christ’s care. She commanded the situation because she refused to yield to “false opinions.” (S-19) What have you been told that would limit you – about your abilities or background or health or personality? Isn’t the underlying problem always a belief that there are many persons and that some are better than others, some are more deserving than others, and that we are all vulnerable? There is one person – God. And that person is not mortal, but immortal Spirit. Infinite in nature, this person is reflected and seen as countless individual spiritual ideas – all harmoniously coexisting in Love! (S-17) Imagine standing in the middle of a house of mirrors. It would look like there were lots of you. But, there would be only one – and the reflection of that one. There can be no conflict (and that includes any suggestion of conflict in the body), no one undeserving or inadequate and no mortality in oneness! [P.S.S.T! This week how can you be more tenacious like the Canaanite woman who refused to take no for an answer and got the healing she sought?]
Section 5: Christ Awakens Us from the Dream of Mortality
A dream seems very real as long as you are asleep. But, once you wake up, everything changes. Whether you were dreaming of pleasure or pain, the sensation stops when the dream stops. The dream is swallowed up by reality. Anyone observing you sleep knows that you aren’t really involved in whatever you’re dreaming about. And, if they can tell you’re scared, they will probably wake you up. Light helps you wake up, doesn’t it? Light swallows up darkness. Christ is the light that wakens us from the dream of mortality. (B-15) It SEEMS that we not only have a mortal body, but that we are our body. Mortal mind and mortal body are one and the same, but this whole mortal sense of life is the dream! (S-23) As we wake up, we find that this mortal (capable of decaying) sense of body is swallowed up by the immortal (lasting) sense of selfhood unconfined by matter, eternal in Mind. (B-16) Jesus lived the Christ – his thought was completely aligned with God. Thus, he was awake! Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension teach us that man (awake to reality) is not subject to death (to any limitation or stoppage of good.) (B-17 & S-21) We can – and must – imitate his example. How? By reasoning rightly until Science breaks the illusion. (S-22) We reason from the standpoint of enlightenment. Remember, the fact is that we reflect the one Ego – the Ego that doesn’t dream, but is always conscious of and understands reality; the Ego that doesn’t believe, but knows; the Ego that is never born and never dies, but just IS! We don’t have a mind (or personality) of our own. We each reflect this Ego – completely and uniquely – just like each ray of the sun reflects the fullness of the sun! The ray is the outcome of the sun and we are each the outcome of God. No shadow in light, and no mortality in immortality! (S-23) Look at the promise in S&H marker 24 (p. 218). Walk in the Christ light and it will awaken you! [P.U.S.S.H! Strive to express more of your immortality today by putting into action the camp song: “I’m alive, alert; awake, enthusiastic!” Which of the three daily duties in the Church Manual on pages 40-42 will this fulfill?]
Section 6: Love – the Key to Life!
You don’t have to wait for immortal life. Love your way to it! The measure of success is how fully you love. (B-18) Why love one another? Because it is the only way to know God. (B-19) And knowing God is the only way to drop the limits of mortality, and realize the freedom of immortality. Stop thinking in terms of differences and disagreements! We all have the same Mind – we are one in God. (B-20) Circumcision was originally what distinguished the offspring of Isaac (Abraham’s and Sarah’s son) from the offspring of Ishmael (Abraham’s first son with Hagar). It was a sign of the covenant. Paul now instructs the people to stop worrying about outward appearances – the differences. Christ – the eternal ideal of God, represented by Jesus but not limited to a material personality – is Abraham’s seed and unites us ALL! (B-20 & 21) When you see a classmate, a teammate, a fellow-church member or a total stranger do you focus on their body or their personality or how they are different from (or the same as) you? Or do you just see God’s image? Make it a habit to identify something that you can love in everyone you come in contact with. Focus on the good, recognizing its source to be God, so immortal and real. That which is less than good is mortal. It doesn’t belong to God, so it doesn’t belong to God’s children. It isn’t lasting, so see through it, rather than focusing on it. (S-25) God has made us all – drawn us to Her specifications. Mortal sense can’t begin to see the beauty of that creation. (S-28) But, that doesn’t change the fact that “the harmony and immortality of man are intact.” (S-27) And as we focus on Love as the creator and walk in the light of that Love, we will find it more natural to love. As Love becomes the very center of our being, matter will submit to Spirit (as darkness submits to light) and you’ll find yourself winning the prize of limitless freedom! (S-26) Practice the Principle of Love – just like you practice anything else you want to perfect – and you will find yourself living a fuller life as you ripen into health and immortality. Fruit ripens in the sun. We ripen, too, (get sweeter and better) in the sunlight of Love! [P.S.S.T! As you daily practice being more loving, share with your SS class (or congregation) how you are becoming less judgmental and angry and more patient and forgiving.]
[APPENDIX WITH MORE ON BIBLE CITATION #7 FROM THIS WEEK’S LESSON:
“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” (& s’mores 🙂 Malachi 3:3
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: “He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.” She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?” He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy — when I see my image in it.” If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God always has his eye on you and sees His image in you. Like a marshmallow too is roasted for the perfect s’more so that it’s hot enough to melt but not burn up and to melt the chocolate and blend all the ingredients.]
Camp Director’s Note: The above sharing is the latest in a series of CedarS Bible Lesson “mets” (metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians [with bracketed, italicized notes and “Possible Sunday School Topics” offered by me as editor]. 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, application 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. 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 (i.e. B1 and S28) from this week’s Bible Lesson in the “met” (metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the King James Version of the Bible (B1-24) and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. (S1-30) 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. Have fun unwrapping, cherishing and sharing your special, spiritual gift(s)!
Enjoy!
Warren Huff, Camp Director director@cedarscamps.org (636) 394-6162
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