“The sacrifices her workers made to spread God’s Science”

Many of the thoughts and ideas that stood out to me while reading We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, Vol. II I thought I already knew, but became enlarged and alive in consciousness, because I was living with Mrs. Eddy through the words of her workers and their sharing of her responses to a countless number of comments, situations, and occurrences as they happened.  Over and over, they illustrated she was always in God’s day, expressing her oneness with God, and at the same time setting the example for us to be open to newness of thought.  I grew, as happens over and over, to appreciate her, and her words and works, even more than ever before.

One word that stays with me from reading the wonderful reminiscences of the workers – what they were assigned to do and constantly did – is WATCH.  We know this from praying daily with “A Rule for Motives and Acts” and “Alertness to Duty” from the Church Manual, from your closing instructions to us in class and the many references Mrs. Eddy gives us in her works.  When I am reminded of all that she faced and the seeming evil at her doorstep, the sacrifices her workers made to serve her and to spread God’s Science, I am deeply humbled.

From the sacrifices of the early workers, we can all learn that we need, today, and every day, to watch our thoughts and cling to Truth, be fearless in speaking it, and most importantly to demonstrate it by healing.  Relearning the importance of this is what I carry with me most from reading this book, and is certainly what I will share with my grandchildren and those seeking, or new to, Science, and any other instance where it will help or seem appropriate.  

And, as she said to Mr. Dickey, “Now take this lesson to yourself (myself) … do not admit anything on the wrong side, but instantly declare that the experience does you good” (WKMBE II, p 424).

I learned the verity of this not long ago when I answered the telephone one morning and could not hear anything.  I knew from the phone someone was speaking.  I immediately declared the definition of ears as “spiritual understanding” (S&H 585:1) and denied that there could be any sense of loss.  I called a dear practitioner for help and she quickly e-mailed me a 1974 article from the CS Journal and two from the CS Sentinel (1955 and 2013), which were very insightful and wonderfully inspiring.  I studied these, and living alone, went about my day not “testing” my hearing, but lifting thought spiritually.  When I called her that evening, knowing healing had taken place, I could hear but am still needing to “watch” suggestions of age, and knowing all faculties are from the divine Mind.  Also, without reading your assignment, I wouldn’t have Mrs. Eddy’s reply to Mr. Dickey, which I refer to often.  As a guide, the whole section “Mrs. Eddy’s daily drives,” (pp. 422-424) is one I continue to learn from and “dig into.”

Especially precious to me is, “Communing with God and demonstrating His truth”(pp. 298-301) in the section by Anna B. White Baker.  I love Mrs. Eddy saying, “God has just told me,” and “I love to talk with God.”  Anna White Baker also reminds us what a completely dedicated student of the Bible Mrs. Eddy was.  I am striving to become that dedicated student of the Bible.  If my religion is based on the Bible, I can certainly study it more than just in the weekly Lesson!  Being able to bring the Bible into conversation with non-Scientists is always a good tool for perhaps bringing change of thought, or eliminating prejudice, or predetermined conclusions.  So I try to do that.

I am looking forward to the references you will be sending on our topic, “Finding our transparency for Spirit.”  It is very comforting and inspiring to be able to know we are constantly becoming more transparent to Spirit.