“Let your upper-standing hold you”

I finished reading We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, Expanded Edition, Vol. II.  I read it slowly, drinking in the truths that Mrs. Eddy imparted to her staff.

Although the complete Truth is right there in Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy, these gems highlight it with new perspective, such as: “Do not work against error, but feel the Love that dissolves it” (p. 133) and “In your arguments do not admit any opposite to God, a denial of anything is an admission that it has a claim to existence.”  And my favorite: “You will heal instantaneously when you believe what you say” and “…‘I can’ is the Son of ‘I am’” (p. 285).  I love that!

Mortal mind is constantly trying to tell me I can’t.  When I was the only one left to accept the First Reader position.  When I couldn’t read the small print in the concordances.  When a church member loaned me a computer with the Concord program on it and I was computer ignorant.  When I needed to organize the order of service notes on the desk.  When I needed to put together Wednesday evening readings, etc. But little by little “I am” said “you can.”

Mrs. Eddy also said in William Rathvon’s account: “Do not depend too much upon your understanding, but let your upper-standing hold you” (p. 545).

Reading that book was and is a bountiful feast.  I am learning a lot!    

“A thought…that has given renewed Spirit to my prayer”

When I received this year’s Association assignment, I had received We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, Expanded Edition, Vol. I as a gift the previous Christmas, but had not yet had the opportunity to read it.  Before reading the second volume, it seemed to make sense to complete the first.  I haven’t yet finished them both, but wanted to share a thought from the first volume that has given renewed Spirit to my prayer and has helped greatly in a healing toward which I have been working for a time and for which I have seen welcome progress recently. 

In Mary Stewart’s account, she remembers Mrs. Eddy saying, “The worst evil is to go to a bed of sickness and say: ‘God is All.  God is Love. You are not sick.’”  She spoke with scorn of such statements made coldly and superficially, and indicated that that sort of practice…brought criticism from physicians, saying: “If I were a physician, I would have made the same criticisms…Mother would say, ‘Arise and walk.’” Like Jesus our Leader healed quickly and permanently…” (p. 319)

I am afraid I have sometimes been a bit superficial like that in my treatments, more concerned with the logical, intellectual argument than feeling the authority and power of Spirit and allowing that power to direct the healing work.  Since studying this, though, I have seen welcome progress praying about a challenge with breathing that I have been praying about for the better part of the last year!

“I think I have caught a glimpse of this glow of spiritual inspiration”

Thank you for the assignment to read We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, Volume II. I have just finished reading the first account from Jennie Sawyer. Wow! I enjoyed reading her descriptions of Mrs. Eddy’s radiance. I think I’ve caught a glimpse of this glow of spiritual inspiration—in class, during Association, in other Christian Scientists, even in myself.  To imagine what a presence Mrs. Eddy was…it’s inspiring just to think of.

Mrs. Sawyer gives such great concrete examples of healing and Mrs. Eddy’s guidance. The healing of Sawyer’s longstanding invalidism itself was amazing. And to think the medical and religious authorities weren’t won over by the evidence right before their eyes. 

“Reading the book gives so many specifics about what is expected and what’s possible”

I love the new assignment. The book has been really important to me.

Mrs. Eddy is constantly demanding and helping her household to wake up from the mesmerism of mental attacks or mortal mind’s viewpoint. She knew that, as man, they could wake up. At times it seemed that she could be impatient or unreasonable—when they were already working so hard—but she needed them to take this God-given right seriously if they and the Cause were going to survive.

And I think about myself. I’m not so sure that Mrs. Eddy would have chosen me to be in her household, and that is sobering because she always needed helpers so much. And sobering because the need is also a current one. Reading the book gives so many specifics about what is expected and what’s possible.