Competition

March 4, 1999

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalms

This was a hard topic for most of us — at least initially. We had all had personal experiences of being edged out by a business competitor, or perhaps the arrival of a younger sibling, or a new relationship undertaken by a lover. On the other hand, we all bristled at the very idea of not having available to us a full array of goods and services at low prices, or people for whatever form of professional, friendly and romantic engagement. So we were off to a good start, awash in ambiguous feelings about competition.

A couple of our members argued that what is termed competition is probably not perceived as such by those who are simply providing better goods and services, or more loving support. Those who've been shot out of the saddle may decry competition, or worse, but they'd be advised to supply even better what is needed or just move on to someone or something else. One member quoted this from Science and Health: "This is the doctrine of Christian Science: that divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation, or object;" (pg. 304:9-11).

One member illustrated this process by recounting his demonstration of finding new employment after his homosexuality became known at the rather stuffy firm he'd worked at for fifteen years. There was joking and gossip behind the scenes — or so Gay informants told him — and he sought out the help of a Christian Science practitioner. Nothing was ever said directly to him, but he was passed over for promotion. He kept working with Science and turned in a very good performance on the job. He eventually saw his way clear to go on his own and agreed to a very amicable six month training period working with his replacement. The last words his boss said to him as he left were, "Stay as you are." His company gave him the option of returning to work for them if his own business didn't work out. This whole year and a half experience was a deeply prayerful and sacred time of growth.  "The loss of material objects of affection sunders the dominant ties of earth and points to heaven. Nothing can compete with Christian Science, and its demonstration, in showing this solemn certainty in growing freedom and vindicating 'the ways of God' to man." (Retrospection and Introspection, pg. 31:1-5)

Another member read from "The Inner Game Of Tennis", by Timothy Gallwey. The terminology was different from that of Christian Science but the ideas were close enough to permit translation into our favorite lingo. The thrust of the book seems to be to get us out of our little mind or ego — we'd call it mortal mind — and into the broader flow of divine Mind. Yes, both tennis and life seem an inevitable succession of competitive situations, but if lived from the greater perspective one derives from the game a joy otherwise unavailable and may even live the events not as a hyped-up body shell confronting others but, from the level of super-sensible good (see Retrospection and Introspection, pg. 73:12-18) as all the people and places involved.

This view of competition provoked a discussion summarized as follows:

  • It is clear in Science that the God-man-universe is perfect now and needs no competition to reveal perfection. However, humans striving to discern their divinity will need a clash of ideas to bring out higher forms ever more closely representing their innate divinity. "Infinite progression is concrete being, which finite mortals see and comprehend only as abstract glory." (Miscellaneous Writings, pg. 82:20-21)
  • Darwin's revelations with regard to evolution and survival of the fittest show this point. Heterosexuality has played a big part in this evolutionary unfoldment, but it may not always be so as artificial insemination, gene sciences, organ substitutions and Christian Science replace the older models. Has not homosexuality had a role in betterment of the planet and may it not have growing influence, as detailed in the new book "Biological Exuberance", by Bruce Bagemihl, Ph.D.?
  • Some felt that in games as in business and love pushing an opponent or being pushed by him to excel is a very loving thing to do. One needs to get over the all out drive to win and actually enjoy the camaraderie, the give and take. A hard thing perhaps from the standpoint of mortal mind, but from a larger place quite joyous. As we looked at The Mother Church's treatment of Gay people, we could cut through the rhetoric and represent the struggle as being a game between two teams, the homophobes versus the homophiles. How wondrously this competition is working for both sides as we force each other to grow in the understanding of our own and the others' divinity: "..all things work together for good to them who love God," (Romans 8:28).
Some members felt that self-esteem is an issue when dealing with competition — perhaps to be inculcated, perhaps to be gotten rid of. Whichever or both, that's the topic for next week.

The Bible

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy

St. Paul wrote, "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us;" that is, let us put aside material self and sense, and seek the divine Principle and Science of all healing.

When the Science of Christianity appears, it will lead you into all truth.

Those, who are willing to leave their nets or to cast them on the right side for Truth, have the opportunity now, as aforetime, to learn and to practise Christian healing.

Miscellaneous Writings, by Mary Baker Eddy

When the belief in material origin, mortal mind, sensual conception, dissolves through self-imposed suffering, and its substances are found substanceless,—then its miscalled life ends in death, and death itself is swallowed up in Life,—spiritual Life, whose myriad forms are neither material nor mortal.

When every form and mode of evil disappear to human thought, and mollusk and radiate are spiritual concepts testifying to one creator,—then, earth is full of His glory, and Christian Science has overshadowed all human philosophy, and being is understood in startling contradiction of human hypotheses; and Socrates, Plato, Kant, Locke, Berkeley, Tyndall, Darwin, and Spencer sit at the feet of Jesus.

To this great end, Paul admonished, "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." So shall mortals soar to final freedom, and rest from the subtlety of speculative wisdom and human woe.

The loss of material objects of affection sunders the dominant ties of earth and points to heaven. Nothing can compete with Christian Science, and its demonstration, in showing this solemn certainty in growing freedom and vindicating "the ways of God" to man.

At this period my students should locate in large cities, in order to do the greatest good to the greatest number, and therein abide. The population of our principal cities is ample to supply many practitioners, teachers, and preachers with work. This fact interferes in no way with the prosperity of each worker; rather does it represent an accumulation of power on his side which promotes the ease and welfare of the workers. Their liberated capacities of mind enable Christian Scientists to consummate much good or else evil; therefore their examples either excel or fall short of other religionists; and they must be found dwelling together in harmony, if even they compete with ecclesiastical fellowship and friendship.

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