Retirement
May 6, 2004
Science reveals the glorious possibilities of immortal man, forever unlimited by the mortal senses.
"The only legitimate retirement in Science is ascension."
"Well fine, but what do you mean by ascension?"
"The full understanding and acceptance of what's already true — the infinity and eternality of everyone."
"Do we have to die to ascend, or can we do it in the flesh? Jesus appeared to die before ascending."
"Yes, but he may have implied we were to do it our own way when he said we'd do greater works than he."
"Certainly his so-called transfiguration gives a hint of what's possible while still living here." (See the Readings from Matthew).
"The reason I asked whether we could ascend in the flesh is that the seminar I attended on retirement had a lot of imagery that would help give meaning to ordinary retirement. So why not take it to the scientific max here, and pump some divine reality into the concept?"
"Well, since I'm in little danger of ascending anytime soon I'd just as soon enjoy some of the imagery you uncovered at the seminar. Tell us about it."
"The presenter was a Jungian analyst; she's also an Episcopal priest. She alerted us first that she would not discuss health and financial issues, which normally dominate retirement discussions. She then pointed out that 65 is an artificial age for withdrawal from work, arrived at in 1935 when Social Security came about and the average age at death was 63."
"Don't Jungians use mythology to gain insight into situations?"
"Yes, and she piled it on. We started with Merlin, the wizard of the Round Table, who falls in love with the Lady Vivianne. She seduces and lures him into a crystal cave where he is imprisoned until Arthur returns."
"I take it Arthur doesn't return."
"He hasn't shown up yet, so Merlin has lots of time for reflection in his crystal prison."
"Now that sounds like stereotypical old age."
"Yes, but look at all the other symbols, and this one, that can have mundane or divine significance."
"Could you make that a bit clearer?"
"Sure. Mrs. Eddy says every material belief hints at spiritual reality. Arthur could be seen as a Christ figure, as could Merlin, alone in his cave-tomb. Reflection is a Christian Science buzz-word, but it faithfully describes the action of God as man — the passive/active unfoldment of reality on earth as in heaven."
"What about the Lady Vivianne?"
"I'd see her as the repressed feminine element in one-sided spiritual quests who seems so horrific to ego consciousness, but who actually rescues us and redirects our lives if we pay attention."
"There's something in the Lesson (Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson) this week about how essential the feminine is in spiritual growth. Here it is (Mrs. Eddy is describing Eve): "She has already learned that corporeal sense is the serpent. Hence she is first to abandon the belief in the material origin of man and to discern spiritual creation. This hereafter enabled woman to be the mother of Jesus and to behold at the sepulchre the risen Saviour, who was soon to manifest the deathless man of God's creating. This enabled woman to be first to interpret the Scriptures in their true sense, which reveals the spiritual origin of man." (Science and Health, pg. 533:30)
"Did anything else come up at the seminar?"
"The presenter gave herself a Tarot reading beforehand on the subject of retirement. Three cards were prominent: the Hanged Man, the Tower, and the Queen of Cups. She saw these as underlining some of the themes we'd found in the Merlin material. Briefly, they indicate the need to surrender to our true selfhood as ego drives wear thin. Our contra-sexual element or anima leads us to the depths of being. I may be putting a Christian Science gloss on this, but it's still close."
"You were also saying something about Job when you read from that book earlier."
"Oh right. I was talking to a man who's writing a book about Job and he pointed out that it could be seen as a case of forced retirement. After much suffering Job regains his well being, but with significant changes. He now knows God viscerally, not just in a remote way, and he appears to have let go of some patriarchal notions. His three daughters are named and given inheritances."
"Now to shift the focus a bit — did you know that there's been a huge upsurge in people living beyond 100 in the last few years?"
"100 is the new 80."
"And investigators have found certain qualities among these people. They tend not to retire, but if they have to, they see it as merely a redirection of their lives. They're independent, like to explore and have a sense of purpose."
"So they don't lapse into gloom and doom, as Mrs. Eddy puts it."
"She herself didn't retire. Her move from Boston to Pleasant View in 1889 at age 68 was meant to release her energies for broader, higher work, while her students took care of the affairs of the church."
"I love Jesus' and Mrs. Eddy's sense of retirement — to go on to more important work. I wonder if the expansion of the over 100 population signals a move by this segment of mankind into broader, higher work?"
"The classical mythological development is from the hero-quest where our ego is in control to the king archetype, where our deeper self controls. In these very old, might we now see non-dualistic Christ consciousness emerge?"
"Maybe it's wizard consciousness, or the altruist."
"Could Alzheimer's be a panic reaction to emergent Christ consciousness?"
"OK. Let's slow down. Remember, in Science all human categories are easily overcome and anything is always possible at any moment for anyone who's letting Christ Truth govern. Sure, we tend to call youth beautiful and fresh, old age wise — men are from Mars and women from Venus. So why not Alzheimer's as a marker for spiritual growth. But it's all basically malpractice. Why subject ourselves and others to the suffering brought on by one-sided living when we have the tools in Science to live all as ourselves."
"What do you make of the reading about the seed falling into the ground?"(See Readings from John).
"It's typical corn god imagery — like Osiris, who also underwent that process. Perhaps we could interpret it metaphysically as the need to retire from people, places and things as material beliefs and see them as spiritual ideas. Look at this from Miscellaneous Writings: "What mortals hear, see, feel, taste, smell, constitutes their present earth and heaven: but we must grow out of even this pleasing thraldom, and find wings to reach the glory of supersensible Life; then we shall soar above, as the bird in the clear ether of the blue temporal sky." (pg. 86:28)
"How about some individual experiences with the retirement concept."
"Well, I retired at 41 from 9-to-5 paper shuffling but I saw it as freedom to do something nearer my innate abilities and in line with what I was learning in Christian Science. Shouldn't people retire or redirect their lives without reference to age 65? I should caution that I left the former employment with a definite sense of mission — there was lots of work to do, and I never felt comfortable just lounging around."
"I was forced into retirement by both my branch church and my job. Both experiences were terrible and painful, but looking back now I see them as freeing me to pursue deeper callings. I've been able to help redirect our movement's attitude towards Gay people and launch a singing and dance career."
"Many years ago I started keeping a list of things I wanted to do once I retired. Well, recently I found I'd done them all. So, I feel a little lost as I start to reach out for new activities. What's been coming up the last few weeks is a need for solitude and a deeper study and practice of Christian Science. I'm looking into class instruction."
"I was retired at 20 by the Navy because of mental and emotional problems. It's been hell since then. But in the last year I've gotten into a program that's helped me get an appropriate living situation and psychiatric care. Now that things have stabilized, I'm working on getting a job."
"I recently came out of sexual retirement with the help of a therapist. It's been a wonderful experience, negotiating what I like, while taking into consideration his desires. Now I want more emotional intimacy, not just with sexual partners but with friends generally."
"I find lots of younger people come to me and want to talk. Thank God I quickly got out of any know-it-all attitude and just make myself available to examine a situation and talk about it. I don't pull rank, give advice or become a bossy old man. I'm an inquirer after the truth — just as they are."
"Well, time is up. do we have suggestions for next week's topic?"
"New Beginnings!"
"What do people feel — is that OK?"
"Yes."
"OK"
"Fine"
"That's a good one."
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Then Job answered the Lord, and said,
I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
Waking to Christ's demand, mortals experience suffering. This causes them, even as drowning men, to make vigorous efforts to save themselves; and through Christ's precious love these efforts are crowned with success.
Jesus prayed; he withdrew from the material senses to refresh his heart with brighter, with spiritual views.
Will-power is but a product of belief, and this belief commits depredations on harmony. Human will is an animal propensity, not a faculty of Soul. Hence it cannot govern man aright. Christian Science reveals Truth and Love as the motive-powers of man.
Sleep and mesmerism explain the mythical nature of material sense. Sleep shows material sense as either oblivion, nothingness, or an illusion or dream.
In conscience, we cannot hold to beliefs outgrown; and by understanding more of the divine Principle of the deathless Christ, we are enabled to heal the sick and to triumph over sin.
Life is eternal. We should find this out, and begin the demonstration thereof. Life and goodness are immortal. Let us then shape our views of existence into loveliness, freshness, and continuity, rather than into age and blight.
WILDERNESS. Loneliness; doubt; darkness. Spontaneity of thought and idea; the vestibule in which a material sense of things disappears, and spiritual sense unfolds the great facts of existence.
Creation is ever appearing, and must ever continue to appear from the nature of its inexhaustible source. Mortal sense inverts this appearing and calls ideas material. Thus misinterpreted, the divine idea seems to fall to the level of a human or material belief, called mortal man. But the seed is in itself, only as the divine Mind is All and reproduces all—as Mind is the multiplier, and Mind's infinite idea, man and the universe, is the product.
When I retired from the field of labor, it was a departure, socially, publicly, and finally, from the routine of such material modes as society and our societies demand. Rumors are rumors,—nothing more. I am still with you on the field of battle, taking forward marches, broader and higher views, and with the hope that you will follow.
The eternal and infinite, already brought to your earnest consideration, so grow upon my vision that I cannot feel justified in turning aside for one hour from contemplation of them and of the faith unfeigned. When the verities of being seem to you as to me,—as they must some time,—you will understand the necessity for my seclusion, and its fulfilment of divine order. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord."
All our thoughts should be given to the absolute demonstration of Christian Science. You can well afford to give me up, since you have in my last revised edition of Science and Health your teacher and guide.
Three times a day, I retire to seek the divine blessing on the sick and sorrowing, with my face toward the Jerusalem of Love and Truth, in silent prayer to the Father which "seeth in secret," and with childlike confidence that He will reward "openly."