Watching Point 397

397 — WATCH lest you be disturbed because you find a sense of hatred arrayed against you, in proportion to your demonstration of divine Love. It may seem unjust that the one who reflects the most divine Love, should array against himself the greatest sense of hatred, but there is no other way to attain the reflection of divine Love than by running the gamut of hatred. You must be faithful and courageous in meeting the error that your truth uncovers, knowing that you never uncover more than you can meet.

In the Library of Congress may be found the following item among the copyrights of Lyman P. Powell’s book about Mrs. Eddy: Clara Shannon reported about her, “that for a time, while living in Lynn in her own house, when she went to Boston to see her publishers she had to return home in the early afternoon, for she was followed by different men. During the night the doorbell was rung many times by men who came one after the other, and the policemen in the street kept watch on the house. This went on so much that for a time no one would live in the house with her.” What does this indicate other than hatred pursuing the spiritual idea? Mortal mind felt the warmth of divine Love that she reflected, and interpreted it from its own material and sensual standpoint.

It is of great value for the practitioner and teacher of Christian Science to know of this part of our Leader’s experience, since these workers will understand why, as they are faithful in reflecting divine Love, patients and pupils may fall in love with them and give them much to meet. It is hatred pursuing the spiritual idea; it is the fundamental famished affections feeling the warmth of divine Love, and interpreting it from a material standpoint. Practitioners and teachers, knowing this, must be bold to meet these conditions. If they go forward without fear and refuse to make a reality of the claim of hatred, they cannot be harmed nor interrupted in their spiritual journey.