|
CSEC ON-LINE REFERENCE LIBRARY |
|
ANNIE M. KNOTT, CSD
The woods shall hear the voice of spring and flourish green again. But man forsakes this earthly scene, ah! never to return; Shall any following spring revive the ashes of the urn? While this may seem inconsistent with the religious thought of the present time, it is evident that the sentiment therein expressed still dominates the thought of many sincere Christians, else why the sadness which comes to many when springtime paints the field with delicate tints, telling in every token of a renewed sense of life? Are not their eyes holden by the belief in material law, — a belief which gives no hope of man's eternal existence, but which forever contradicts the divine possibilities that can only be known through the recognition of "the law of the spirit of life" in its ceaseless activity? There is little hope of any great gain of assurance in respect to the resurrection, until each individual becomes conscious of the operation of this law of Spirit which reveals the immortality of all that has its origin in good. As this consciousness is reached through the understanding of Divine Science, all will see in the unfolding beauties of spring a reflection of the good which was first recognized in their spiritual awakening, their healing from sin and sickness, and this sense of good will come with sweeter and stronger renewals as clearer views of Truth are gained. The longing is universal for a springtime of the heart, when the song of the birds, the fragrance of the flowers, the blue of the sky awaken rapture; when each, in its hour, makes of the plodding pilgrim a poet inspired by the touch of Soul. The tragic story of Faust tells of the deep desire which comes to all with the passing years, — a desire to recall the vanished youth with its rosy hopes, its quick responsiveness to joy and gladness. These conditions are not always present in the morning of life, but we are accustomed to think of youth in this way; and were the laws of being rightly understood, its continuance would be assured, joy springing up yet more joyously after the winter days which have called forth the hardier qualities of character. In Christian Science we learn that if joy and gladness are absent it evidences a fault somewhere, — a fault not in nature, which never fails to give forth her glad harmonies; and assuredly not in God who giveth being to all things beautiful and true. If joy fail to appear, it is because we fail to find the Soul of nature and of man; we have forgotten that "of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever." As no poet ever transferred to deathless page his luminous vision who did not catch a glimpse of its meaning from Soul, so no life was ever nobly lived that did not gain its inspiration from the same Divine source. It is apparent that no human effort can hasten the coming of spring or enhance its beauty; for these we look to the quickening Life alone. Thus, too, our unfolding grace, joy, and strength come "from above," to disprove the mortal lie which would make materiality the origin and end of being. We need often to remind ourselves that "with God all things are possible," even the fulfilment of the gracious promise that our youth will be "renewed like the eagle's." To realize this we must have "risen with Christ" into Christ-like thinking and living. In this true consciousness there are no warring elements to produce mental or physical decay. "He shall give thee the desires of thine heart," said the Psalmist, who saw these spiritual things afar off, as we look upon distant peaks from the plain below. Today, under the guidance of divine Truth, we are ascending the heights. We pause at times to drop a burden, and then the vision is cleared to behold new duties on our way, new opportunities to fulfil them, new blessings, and new joys; all leading us to say, "Thou crownest the year with thy goodness."
The Christian Science Journal, April, 1905 |
Copyright
© 1996-2008 CSEC