Unconditional Love
September 5, 2002
What has not unselfed love achieved for the race? All that ever was accomplished, and more than history has yet recorded.
The July 22nd issue of the Christian Science Sentinel linked unconditional love with the healing of AIDS. Although Mary Baker Eddy did not use the term in her writings, some members felt its meaning is close to what she meant simply by Love, a synonym for God. She did use "unselfed love"several times and we've included examples of this in the Readings.
One of the group's friends pointed out that the word love carries too much baggage to be useful in describing the spiritual state necessary for healing. He prefers the word bliss for the realization of perfect, unconditional being.
A member in attendance said unconditional love implies to him inappropriate forgiveness for sins which have not been faced. He mentioned the Christian Science movement and its demonizing of Gay people over the years. Should we now forgive, when no apologies have been offered nor offending articles retracted? Furthermore, he and others felt unconditional love smacks of "love the sinner, hate the sin."
Expanding on this point, one member saw unconditional love as too generic, too canned to support a person's individual unique life demonstration. He wants to see more attentiveness, curiosity, interest, analysis, even nosiness in relating to people. All of what comes up can still be translated into the divine idea, just at hand. He found his practice greatly enhanced as he did some of what he was preaching with friends and other contacts during the week.
While the July 22nd Sentinel showed some aspects of Gay life, several members were glad it did not fuse Gay people with the issue of AIDS. The overwhelming thrust of this disease is now in Africa and Asia, while the integration of Gay people into our church and the world generally needs to be tackled on its own metaphysical grounds. Our religion and its healing practice must be brought into this arena.
One member noted that some of the workshops planned for the Emergence International conference in Houston will address church issues. All, whether attending the conference or not, are being invited to work prayerfully on the various issues raised.
We rounded off our discussion of Love by reaching out for what it is that actually heals and uplifts. We concluded that it's beyond personal sense but completely available as a sense or feeling of all-powerful, all-present good. Mrs. Eddy said to heal we must "be Love!"
Two healing experiences were reported.
1) One member saw a deal with the IRS unravel and an important business ad fail to appear this week. She immediately took to her Christian Science books, to study and pray. She had to handle waves of fear, but as these faded she found the problems could be handled easily.
2) Another member described how unconditional love on the part of his wife and indeed of himself had made his coming out as Gay, their subsequent separation and now ongoing loving friendship possible. No one who saw the glow on his face and the twinkle in his eyes as he talked of their relationship could doubt that this stuff really works!
We had time left to give some attention to community and world problems.
1) A friend of one member said that every Gay person growing up in this society had an abusive childhood, suffering from shame, humiliation and having to present a false face to the world. This struck home with several members and we let the enormity of it sink in as we grasped for what Christian Science could offer. Here's one thought that came up: Mortal mind's horrors force us to grow; they represent only what error looks like as divine Love destroys both the error and its look. Think of Jesus on the cross. A new order of human being is coming forth.
2) The President's sudden change on Iraq — permitting open discussion and agreeing to let Iraq have one last chance with inspectors — was unsettling to some. Has the man no strength of conviction, no dominance? Is he drinking again, as some European newsrooms are buzzing? Several members were just grateful we were not rushing to war. Some felt the new picture shows healing going on. One even felt that the President's evident "ego porosity"was a good thing, letting in the truth! Whatever, as practitioners on the case, we felt it essential to stay well clear of political calculation and cynicism, to stick to the Truth that one Mind only is in charge.
For next week we'll join New York and the nation in commemorating 9-11.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
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.
Whatever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power.
Which was the higher tribute to such ineffable affection, the hospitality of the Pharisee or the contrition of the Magdalen? This query Jesus answered by rebuking self-righteousness and declaring the absolution of the penitent. He even said that this poor woman had done what his rich entertainer had neglected to do,—wash and anoint his guest's feet, a special sign of Oriental courtesy.
Here is suggested a solemn question, a question indicated by one of the needs of this age. Do Christian Scientists seek Truth as Simon sought the Saviour, through material conservatism and for personal homage? Jesus told Simon that such seekers as he gave small reward in return for the spiritual purgation which came through the Messiah. If Christian Scientists are like Simon, then it must be said of them also that they love little.
If we would open their prison doors for the sick, we must first learn to bind up the broken-hearted.
The manifestation of God through mortals is as light passing through the window-pane. The light and the glass never mingle, but as matter, the glass is less opaque than the walls. The mortal mind through which Truth appears most vividly is that one which has lost much materiality—much error—in order to become a better transparency for Truth. Then, like a cloud melting into thin vapor, it no longer hides the sun.
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.
Kindle the watchfires of unselfed love, and they throw a light upon the uncomplaining agony in the life of our Lord; they open the enigmatical seals of the angel, standing in the sun, a glorified spiritual idea of the ever-present God—in whom there is no darkness, but all is light, and man's immortal being. The meek might, sublime patience, wonderful works, and opening not his mouth in self-defense against false witnesses, express the life of Godlikeness.