Watching Point 360

360 — WATCH that you unfold the claims of animal magnetism to others in the wisest way, so that you awaken enough apprehension to cause them to recognize the importance of meeting them, but not enough to paralyze effort, or to induce a stampeding fear. One who struggles against error because he is over-fearful, does his work without expectancy. Hence it is not efficacious.

A fine parable to use in setting forth the action of animal magnetism, is the one concerning people in a valley who were held in subjugation and terror for years, because of their fear of giants in the hills. Finally a youth determined to risk his life in order to lift the terrible bondage from his people. He went to the home of one of the giants and challenged him. He ran the giant through with his sword and discovered him to be nothing but straw and wind.

Like a string drawn across the sidewalk at Halloween, animal magnetism is a menace only when undetected. Under exposure it collapses. The courage one needs to uncover it must spring from the assurance that it is nothing, since God is All.

Once Mrs. Eddy wrote to a student: “Teach your students what animal magnetism is, how it works in themselves and from outside sources on them. These are the points in which my students fail most in teaching, and are the most difficult to teach rightly, so as not to frighten but strengthen the students.”