Watching Point 403

403 — WATCH that you realize that it is more important to learn what man is, than what man is not. Through the handling of error we learn what man is not, and through the reflection of divine Mind we learn what man is. Students should never become so absorbed in working to learn what man is not, that they do not sufficiently emphasize the sequence, that leads to the recognition of what man is as God’s reflection. Mrs. Eddy saw the danger of placing too much emphasis on the negative side of our work, when she directed the students as follows: “Let your minds go out every two hours, All is peace, good will, love, etc. Say nothing of error; confine your thoughts to the right side.”

Sometimes students work so assiduously for human harmony, that they forget to continue this effort to the point of realizing divine harmony. Human harmony is cleaning a bottle, whereas divine harmony is filling it with the inspiration of good. Many practitioners clean the bottle for their patients and go no further. They have not really done them any good, nor does their work deserve to be called anything but “mind-cure.” The true Christian Scientist never leaves his patient until he has filled the latter’s consciousness, if possible, with the spirit of God.