“He conquers who endures.”
~ Persius
Truth endures. Error gives up.
Stand on the winning side of every battle, the truth, and prevail.
Stick to the winning side
March 10, 2017 | 29 comments
Spiritual ideas that inspire healing
Thank you!
Evan, Sometimes one gets weary of “enduring”. I have a growing intolerance these days for what seems to be a sneaky idea that our Christian walk needs to be a series of hurdles, challenges, enduring… Recently a Practioner said to me, ” Thank you for being willing to suffer for Christ.” Immediately, I thought NO!!!. What are we teaching here? That it’s Christlike and noble to suffer? Christ Jesus came to heal mankind. Gave me lots of food for thought. Of course we will have obstacles to move out of our way as we spiritually spread our wings and suffering will probably not be avoided entirely,but as a way of life, I’m just not buying it anymore. I do appreciate and understand your motive to be helpful and supportive when the going gets rough.
Charla…I really appreciate your comment…I think you
are on to something….I too, love questioning everything
including some aspects of our study
and work…its healthy and means you are taking responsibility to
find your own way with the Divine guidance you receive
Charla, I understand exactly what you’re saying. I too have heard this kind of thought so many times. I don’t like to have people emphasize the trials and hurdles. Thanks for your comment. I’ve had the same thought often.
Thank you Evan for a great week of SVs and thanks to everyone that commented!
Thank you Charla for you comment today. I thought your comment did an excellent job of pointing out something we all need to be alert to guard against in our thinking. But I didn’t interpret what Evan wrote today to imply being Christ-like equates to suffering. “Suffer” is one definition of “endure”, but endure means other things too like “remain constant”, “sustain without yielding”, etc. For example, 2+2=4 is enduring, but it doesn’t suffer.
Often times when I pray I get a glorious understanding of the Truth. But then as I go about my day suggestions of the opposite of the Truth tempt me to believe them. So I’ve had to learn to be “enduring” in my understanding of the Truth. Sustaining the Truth in consciousness does not cause me suffering…far from it! It prevents me from suffering.
Amen Brian!!!
YES!
Thank you for your explanation, Brian of how different words can be taken different ways. I am reminded of how we sometimes read, we should “fear” God. The interpretation is usually taken to…be afraid of, but another meaning is to be Reverant to and to be in Awe of.
Also, I think our faith and endurance can be likened to a ship which is built, not to be in a peaceful harbor, but to endure the challenges of the sea.
Thank you, Evan for this blog about Truth always being on the winning side. In a world where there seems to be so many lies, that is such a comforting thought.
One with no challenges, has nothing to learn.
Thank you all for the discussion. It gave me such gratitude for the opportunities we have to share what we each have learned along the journey. These opportunities make the journey easier when shared with spiritual friends. Evan, thank you for providing this opportunity with your blog.
AMEN !!!!! Thank you ! And where are her ropes ?!!
Thanks so much Brian for you clearly stated comment. We aren’t here to suffer, but we can endure any difficulties that come our way until the light of Truth brings relief.
Good for you, Charla, for rebelling against the idea of “Suffering for Christ”!! Absolutely Not!! And a Christian Science Practitioner who is promoting that thought should be brought up short! That is not what Christian Science is about……it is what is called, “old theology” and is often what Christianity promotes. We are not here to Suffer and We are Not Sinners! This is the Breakthrough that C.S. brought to the Christian Churches….and it was not well-received, because so many people (Christians especially) are so steeped in guilt and sin, that they have no love of self or self-esteem or self-respect. This all needs to be Healed!
Bevi, you are an inspiration…thank you
Bevi, Very well put! Thanks.
Thank you, Evan, and all for your loving, thoughtful comments.
Mrs. Eddy says it clearly, “suffering OR Science.” She doesn’t equate the two (Emphasis added).
Bravo…!!
My study and experience tell me that every challenge we have is a burning bush that’s not consumed(see Moses experience Exodus 3:2) For instance, if a relationship has ended or been strained, have we ever been separated from Divine Love in reality? No. That’s what it means that the bush isn’t consumed. Nothing about our or our community’s spiritual existence has ever been strained or cut off from God’s great Love. Mrs Eddy says in “Science and Health”page 296:4-9, we will progress beyond these “illusions” either through “suffering or Science.” Our choice how long we want to ruminate or be mesmerized by the false view. Some healings I’ve had have taken years-cancer and suicidal depression; some have been healed in an instant. The belief of time is false. Physical scientists have recently proven this. We only live in the eternal now. Past and future are dreams. “You command the situation if you understand that mortal existence is a state of self deception and not the truth of being.”(SH 403:14-16) Both the existence of inharmony and the time it takes to overcome it are illusions.
One with no challenges can’t learn anything. Without resistance an airplane can’t take off. The challenge is a forward impelling movement. Without it things are stagnant. Embrace the challenge NOT the error. In CS we do not suffer either for or with Christ but with Christ we rise above the bogus claim of material sense testimony.
Pain and fear are red herrings, temptations not a ” lesson of faith.”
Thanks, Robin! Excellent ideas and understanding! We should never feel “down” or “beat ourselves up” or think the reason we are not getting healed is because we aren’t “good enough”! And yet…. that is what a lot of humans think when a Healing in C.S. is not forthcoming. And that is because a lot of us weren’t told by Parents, Family, Schools and Society that we are Worthy and Deserving as Human Beings – that we are Unique, Talented and are Here for a Precious Reason. Instead, we are often given the impression that we are Bad, Wrong, Guilty and just plain Don’t Measure Up! And this is especially true for Women and those who we wrongly call, “Minorities”! Most of Humanity’s problems stem from childhood incidences of Abuse, from parents who themselves were abused and who just keep passing this false information on down. Human psychology can help a lot with this – give people a chance to face their wounds, their emotional pains, to Feel them, to talk them out and to discover that this was all just False Information that was stuffed down deep inside of them by people who themselves were hurting. As they say: “Hurt People Hurt People”!!
Thank you…all and thank you, Scott. I thought the same thing….Mrs. Eddy said, “Either here or hereafter, suffering or Science must destroy all illusions regarding life and mind, and regenerate material sense and self.” It is sin that suffers and is destroyed..not man..God’s man..the only real man. I like these words a CS teacher once said about Mrs. Eddy’s revelation of God’s allness ..”It wakened human beings from the sleep-walking of mortality to the vitality of eternal Life.” (Julia M. Johnston)
Thank you Evan for today`s short and precise SV – and thank you commenters for your interesting comments. I do understand this SpiritView can also be seen as “never give up”. By the way: “to endure” also meens “to be patient” according to my dictionary. Can mean, patiently always and only sticking to the Truth, God, then we win.
Thank you Patty; I agree fully with you, i.e. we must not or do not suffer but rise with Christ above the claims of material sense testimony, so good and true! 😉
Kathy, very clear and meaningful.
Thanks, Bill
Thank you, Evan, and all for your thoughtful replies. We only fail when we give up, so we must always get backup and persist as “Wait patiently on illimitable Love, the lord and giver of Life. Reflect this Life, and with it cometh the full power of being. ‘They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house’” (Pul. 4:23).
“There is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way is pointed out; but self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life” (SH 462:15).
Thank you Evan. Wow, the few words in your blog generated a lot of discussion! Thank you all commenters but especially Brian, Patty and Kathy. I know, as I am sure you all know, that even when we have a challenge that is not immediately healed there is a lot to be grateful for along the way to the healing. So grateful for this blog and all of you.
https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/6zoe3gjuiu?s=e
The above is a link to a discussion with Judy Wolf regarding the mortal, the human and the divine. I found it helpful regarding today’s discussion and yesterday’s discussion regarding Error Creep.
Thank you so much Shelley, printed it out – its very helpful and good 😉
Thank you Evan and Commenters. I am so very grateful for all you share. Thank you Shelley for the link to that wonderful article by Judy Wolf. Blessings to all in your day.