“Deducing one’s conclusions as to man from imperfection instead of perfection, one can no more arrive at the true conception or understanding of man, and make himself like it, than the sculptor can perfect his outlines from an imperfect model, or the painter can depict the form and face of Jesus, while holding in thought the character of Judas.
“The conceptions of mortal, erring thought must give way to the ideal of all that is perfect and eternal.”
~ Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 259
You are living out your ideals. For the best results, hold to the best ideals.
Perfect God and perfect man is the ideal divine Science has put before you. Go for the best and demonstrate the best.
Stay with Genesis 1:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/24u0jrqmn7u?s=e
thank you, for sharing this article. Excellent, And wisdom guides us to follow this idea to use the perfect model in thought rather than some lessor image. Thank you Evan for that clearity.
Thanks once again, Angie
This weeks lesson in more detail. God the Only Cause and Creator. June’s first lesson.
I just finished reading the chapter on Geneses once more. Creation.
I had a friend who had adopted 4 children having given up having one of their own.
He lamented to me and really wanted the blessing of birth.
I recited “Mother’s Evening Prayer ” from heart. He said “What is that, Dave?” I said “That speaks to a part of you that you do not yet understand.” Then I said, “What are you going to do when your wife gives birth?” He replied “At forty-four I don’t think that will happen.”
His wife gave birth “According to the time of life”. A daughter they named Christy.
The adopted children were a great help!
Memorial Day is certainly a reminder that human life is far from perfect. I have been taking more time with the Sermon On The Mount ( Matt:chapters 5-7) to understand my own needed footsteps to perfection.
I thank God daily for Mrs. Eddy’s clear theology that gives us a high standard of prayer that takes us from petition to a deeper understanding of the man and universes of God’s creation based on Genesis 1.
When I was a Reader in the early 80’s, I read the Sermon on the Mount every Sunday prior to the service. It was so helpful, I have continued reading it every Sunday. I read from several translations. God guides me each week by telling me which one to choose. And every week, I find the perfect guidance to meet a current need or lift. Mary Baker Eddy recommends reading the Sermon on the Mount every Sunday. I have been so blessed over the years!
Spot on. Thank you!
I’ve been praying to understand man’s spiritual individuality (p. 317:19) and to claim it for all of us.
This SpiritView helps!
Mary, thanks for the reference to p. 317 in Science & Health. I looked it up and and two sentences stood out to me (lines 16-20), “The individuality of man is no less tangible because it is spiritual and because his life is not at the mercy of matter. The understanding of his spiritual individuality makes man more real, formidable in truth, and enables him to conquer sin, disease and death.”
Also thank you to John Qualtrough for highlighting that prayer in Christian Science is not about petitioning God to change something that we thing is “wrong,” but a looking deeper and higher to see the true goodness and perfection already present and undisturbed. Or as Evan put it, “Perfect God and perfect man is the ideal divine Science has put before you.” Thanks and love to everyone!
Also loved the nature photo up top. It shows a beautiful path forward through life illuminated brightly with rays of God’s Light. I think we can’t see ourselves, others or any situations clearly until we let the light of truth shine though the false surface appearance of things.
I like what you posted Rose and John Q. Very clear.
Thanks Evan Love to all
Great reminder Evan as always and thank you too Angie.
Thank you Evan reminder never give up on perfect ideal.
The tropical forest above
Memorial of God’s dear Love.
Filtered sunlight comes through misted air.
Illuminating all that’s there.
Much more than that can be felt.
If you listen to the scene
Hear the life about.
You can feel and then see the birds call,
Among the monkey’s chattering climbing and fall.
And all around, rustling life big and small.
No mortal mind there to dim and erase,
The timelessness of Life’s grace.
Oh! This is answered prayer! My thought this morning was “how do I go forward?”” And here it is!
My heart is singing !
Thank you Evan for the perfect picture; thanks to Angie for sending that amazing article, to John, Rose and David for even more insight and thoughts!
I am SO grateful
Evan, these captivating quotes from Science and Health, as well as Angie’s posted article “Stay with Genesis 1” have given me such a re-affirmation and conviction of how thought is the basis of all experience, and how reality is the pure and perfect ideal expression of an all good infinite intelligent all loving Mind. As always, your clear and gentle instructions uplift thought and provide a rousing impetus to “hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true”. Thank you for your beautiful communications that inspire spiritual devotion of thought and healing action in so many lives.
What a lovely poem David! Thank you.
Thank you!
So grateful I tuned in today. Angie your article was so
Helpful. Reminded me that Gods law does not fluctuate
but Is constant and reliable.
Loved your poem David and Evan’s constant help
All that is ever actually “going on,” regardless of the
five senses’ interpretations of spiritual facts, is
Divine Love and Its ideas.”
Sitting—even a few moments—with this Momentous truth, letting it BE, yielding thought to it,… is
A glimpse of Heaven, here, now, at hand…………
How grateful we can be, are, for this gift of the Comforter right in the midst of “human life….”
I think of … the flat earth…..that isn’t.