Do I Love?

July 18, 2002

In love for man, we gain a true sense of Love as God; and in no other way can we reach this spiritual sense, and rise--and still rise--to things most essential and divine.

Miscellaneous Writings, by Mary Baker Eddy

This is one of those topics that can produce a lot of hot air, so our chairperson steered us immediately towards sharing recent examples of love in action.

Here's some of what came up.

1) One member, just minutes before the meeting, stumbled over a misplaced briefcase as she entered the Center where we meet and crashed to the floor. As she fell she could feel a huge impulsion of Love encircling and protecting her. People ran to help her; she found she was OK physically and had a very loving feeling for herself and others, including the owner of the briefcase.

2) Another talked of losing a favorite jacket as he made the rounds with friends one evening. He was extremely self-critical, but was able to pray. He came to the conclusion that only good could result from the incident. The loss of a material object was regrettable, but he could gain from being kind to himself and others and by being more careful with his belongings. A few days later the jacket turned up on the floor of his closet.

3) Another talked of how divine Love has been allowed to be present at the center of his family life. Before their first child was born, he and his wife determined that they would only do things for and with the child if such actions made them feel good, on the basis that "...whatever blesses one blesses all," (Science and Health, p. 206:16). There would be no false responsibility or obligation. Family life as a consequence has been a joy over the years. When he found he was Gay late in life, his coming out was helped along by the groundwork of love and trust already established. Internalized homophobia was dealt a severe blow by the realization that, "If God loves me, why can't I?"

4) Another is finding a couple of areas in her present experience that are tough to deal with. These may be cases where divine Love needs activation. One area is how she and other artists in her field can best support each other's efforts. The other is how to find enough money to survive as an artist in New York City, and avoid collapsing under the weight of envy.

5) Another took us through the latest stages of his recovery form the grief brought on by his roommate's death. He realized the value of the Catholic mass celebrated at the funeral. It meant to him: "Assimilate what you have learned in your relationship with this friend. Make it your own." Friends have been loving and comforting; the sadness is beginning to abate. He has just begun to be able to get at the absolute Christian Science standpoint on death, as outlined in Science and Health, pp. 377:3-5 and 386:16-2.

6) Another talked of a breakthrough with his homophobic father, whom he recently took care of after an operation. The father had thrown him and his Gay brother out of the house when they were in their teens, but our member managed to build a successful life, including a long term relationship. The arrival two weeks ago of a letter from the father commenting on his son's kindness and loyalty was deeply felt nonetheless and represents a big jump forward in their unfolding relationship.

7) Another spoke of difficulties developing in his "summer project" (running for a seat in the state Senate). Needed support from people in key positions is not always forthcoming. "It's almost a law of mortal belief that when you need something from someone, they resist giving it." He is finding that as he prays with the First Commandment uppermost in thought, things flow more smoothly. "God brings forth whatever result He wishes."

8) Another described an interaction with an older neighbor, who may be toying with a surrender to senility. A few weeks ago he tried to be of assistance to her and rapidly found her becoming overwhelmingly confused, helpless and dependent. As a student of Christian Science he prayed and was able to see her as having the Mind of God. He forgot all about her and apparently she managed on her own for several weeks. Just the other day he saw her on the street and started getting back into the false belief about her. He even took some actions on her behalf which it turned out she had already handled! This time he quickly got back to the truly loving position of seeing her correctly.

For next week we'll handle the belief of AIDS. The Christian Science Sentinel of July 22nd is devoted to this topic and there is much information in the press flowing from the recent Barcelona conference on AIDS.

The Bible

But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

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

The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love.

What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds.

The substance of all devotion is the reflection and demonstration of divine Love, healing sickness and destroying sin. Our Master said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

All that really exists is the divine Mind and its idea, and in this Mind the entire being is found harmonious and eternal. The straight and narrow way is to see and acknowledge this fact, yield to this power, and follow the leadings of truth.

The true sense of being and its eternal perfection should appear now, even as it will hereafter.

Miscellaneous Writings, by Mary Baker Eddy

LOVE

What a word! I am in awe before it. Over what worlds on worlds it hath range and is sovereign! the underived, the incomparable, the infinite All of good, the alone God, is Love.

By what strange perversity is the best become the most abused,—either as a quality or as an entity? Mortals misrepresent and miscall affection; they make it what it is not, and doubt what it is. The so-called affection pursuing its victim is a butcher fattening the lamb to slay it. What the lower propensities express, should be repressed by the sentiments. No word is more misconstrued; no sentiment less understood. The divine significance of Love is distorted into human qualities, which in their human abandon become jealousy and hate.

Love is not something put upon a shelf, to be taken down on rare occasions with sugar-tongs and laid on a rose-leaf. I make strong demands on love, call for active witnesses to prove it, and noble sacrifices and grand achievements as its results. Unless these appear, I cast aside the word as a sham and counterfeit, having no ring of the true metal. Love cannot be a mere abstraction, or goodness without activity and power. As a human quality, the glorious significance of affection is more than words: it is the tender, unselfish deed done in secret; the silent, ceaseless prayer; the self-forgetful heart that overflows; the veiled form stealing on an errand of mercy, out of a side door; the little feet tripping along the sidewalk; the gentle hand opening the door that turns toward want and woe, sickness and sorrow, and thus lighting the dark places of earth.

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