“Gradually and gently up toward the perfect thought divine” — (Unity of Good)

Thank you for the assignment! I’ve been thinking about the kingdom of heaven every morning when I say the Daily Prayer and am getting a stronger feeling of actually living in that kingdom. 

While reading Mary Baker Eddy’s Retrospection and Introspection in college, I discovered this quote from Jesus, “the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matt. 11:12). I now see this informs how we should work upward.

Mrs. Eddy wrote that “radical reliance on Truth” is necessary for healing (Science and Health 167:30). At first, I thought she meant that I needed to think radically, or extremely. Now I wonder if she was using Merriam Webster’s second definition of radical, which is “of or relating to the origin: fundamental,” as in a fundamental reliance on Truth. To me, this means seeing more of what God is doing and less of what I’m trying to do. Paul changed his name when his old sense of right was replaced with a new sense, and I feel solidarity with that change. It’s not that I wasn’t trying to do the right thing before, I just didn’t know how to be more right.

My small but evolving understanding of how to work in this kingdom is that I should work more gently, while still refuting error. More time with the periodicals has helped propel me forward in this fresh approach. A recent Sentinel article highlighted guidance from Mrs. Eddy, who wrote that Christian Scientists “work gradually and gently up toward the perfect thought divine” (Unity of Good 5:5–6).

I remember Skip’s guidance that “everything is a demonstration.” Instead of forcing an outcome, I’m more willing to let progress unfold. I think this is the way forward for our churches, too. Not forceful giving but “freely giving.”

This past year I’ve seen healings and prevention of COVID in my family; protection from an accident with a power tool; symptoms of meningitis overcome; and a fear of cancer destroyed with the help of a faithful practitioner. I’ve also had people request my prayers at work. This must be a taste of that real kingdom.

It would be hard to express my gratitude any better than these words of Hymn 484: “God is here with me. / While praying, I find all good here provided. / I’m seeing views of Truth, and understanding all is well. / Infirmity is gone, now leaving me perfectly free.”