Heredity And Environment

Heredity And Environment — 1960 Association Address

by Herbert E. Rieke

For centuries there has been a lively discussion as to the part that heredity and environment play in determining the nature and condition of an individual. Children often resemble their parents — not only in appearance, but in their emotions — even in the way they talk. There is a persistent argument that our natures are determined by human heredity. Most people accept these suggestions, consciously or unconsciously, without much protest. They think, like father like son. It is believed that human characteristics are perpetuated through the kind of material cells that have been incorporated in the body by a human father and mother.

Most people also believe that environment plays an important part in determining the nature and experience of an individual. If you are reared in a congenial, cultured atmosphere, you are supposed to grow up with a good disposition — polite and cultured. If you have been reared in a broken home, or one in which there was much conflict and misunderstanding, then you are liable to be emotionally disturbed. If there is much bigotry and prejudice in your community, you might be inclined to be prejudiced. The self-will and discord manifested in your office is liable to have an effect on you.

Heredity and environment — what does Christian Science teach about these? Do they have an effect upon us? How do we handle the belief of the effects of a false sense of heredity and environment? These are important questions. Christ Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer gave us the answer. In the first line we read, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.” This statement corrects all false beliefs in regard to heredity. If we all have one and the same heavenly Father-Mother God, then in the words of Paul, we have an “inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away . . .” (I Pet. 1:4)

In the second line of the Lord’s Prayer our Master gives us the remedy for any false sense of environment: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Here we find the truth about our environment. Our Master said further that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, it surrounds us, it is our environment. Let us consider these two basic truths in regard to our heredity and environment.

Heredity

I am sure that all of us have accepted theoretically the truth that God is our Father and Mother, our true origin. But have we considered all the spiritual implications of this statement? Jesus was very definite that we should call no man our Father upon earth, for one is our Father which is in heaven. He also asked, “Who is my mother?” He replied, “It is she who does the will of the heavenly Father.” He insisted that we understand divine parenthood. I am sure he would not have allowed long human genealogies to enter his life story if he could have edited the Gospels.

It is not only important that we see ourselves as originating in divine Mind as a spiritual idea, but it is also vital that we think the same way about everyone else. We should especially think clearly in regard to those we call our parents and grandparents. Instead of being our fathers and mothers, they are elder brothers and sisters, having the same Father-Mother God. As we think that way about them we not only find greater freedom for ourselves, but we help them to discover their true inheritance of dominion and liberty.

I have told some of you about my experience with my dad, but it bears repeating. He had several characteristics that I did not admire, and I used to work vigorously to annul the claim of heredity, for I did not want to be like my dad.

When I came home from overseas, after World War II, we spent a month with my folks at the lake. Dad and I were repairing a sail boat, and I found myself saying, “Dad, I’m just like you, in that I like to work with tools.” Big tears came into his eyes, and then I realized this was the first time I had ever said I was like my dad with any sense of pride and appreciation. Tears of repentance now came to my eyes, and I grasped this great truth: That from the spiritual and true standpoint I was like my dad, because, we, in our true being, were like God. I saw clearly that although I had been trying to keep my thought uplifted in regard to myself as God’s perfect child, I had been pushing my dad under with false opinions in regard to him. Immediately I saw a great change. The next day he said, “It’s kind of hard.” I asked, “What?” He said that he hadn’t smoked for twenty-four hours. I asked if he’d like me to give him some help. He was immediately healed of the tobacco habit. From then on I never knew him to be blue or discouraged. He let us all work out our own salvation. During his last years he was truly loved and appreciated by everyone. What a joy it has been for me to think of those called my parents as individuals who came forth from the heavenly Father-Mother God.

I cannot be too vigorous in encouraging you to uplift your concept of those called your parents and grandparents, whether they are visibly with us here or not. If you think erroneously about them you give yourself a lot of unnecessary work to do. The fifth Commandment says, “Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Some Christian Scientists interpret this that we should honor our Father-Mother God in heaven, and almost give the impression that we should not have a sense of honor for those who are called our parents. This is certainly a distortion of the meaning of the fifth Commandment. If we are honoring God as the Father and Mother of all, we shall have respect, admiration, and honor for those called our parents and grandparents.

If your children try hard not to be like you, this would make you sad. But if they admire and honor the Godlike qualities you express, if they regard you as an elder brother or sister, who is showing them the right way to find health, happiness, and success — this attitude would bring you a great sense of joy and satisfaction.

In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, “Heredity is not a law. The remote cause or belief of disease is not dangerous because of its priority and the connection of past mortal thoughts with present....... Perhaps an adult has a deformity produced prior to his birth by the fright of his mother. When wrested from human belief and based on Science or the divine Mind, to which all things are possible, that chronic case is not difficult to cure.” (178: 8-10, 13) In healing such cases we need to uplift the concept of the patient. But also the concept of the parents and grandparents. You will remember when they brought to Jesus a man who had been born blind, the disciples wanted to know whether it was the man or his parents who had sinned. And Jesus answered, “Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.” Jesus did not see sin as real in the man or his parents. He was not trying to find the cause for the blindness, but he was helping everyone to see that God, the divine Principle of all being, produces vision and perfection. Such a case is easy to heal when we’re not trying to see a perfect man in spite of the wrong thinking and living of his parents, but because the one divine Mind as the universal parent is present with the children as well as with parents and grandparents. The Bible instructs us not to say, “The parents have eaten sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” It is right for us to know that the only inheritance we have comes from our Father-Mother God, and it must therefore be good, beautiful and perfect. But with a heart full of love we must go further and realize that our parents have not had a disorderly, confused, or frustrated sense of things. They have not had unhappy, sour, disagreeable experiences, which would claim to have an effect in our present affairs.

Our Leader tells us, “In proportion to our understanding of Christian Science, we are freed from the belief of heredity, of mind in matter or animal magnetism . . .” (S&H p. 178) She indicates that heredity is synonymous with animal magnetism. She also says hypnotism or animal magnetism is the specific name for all error. Therefore, this belief of heredity is the specific name for all error or trouble, and it must be handled scientifically.

In showing that the belief of heredity is important to handle, Mrs. Eddy says, “Heredity is a prolific subject for mortal belief to pin theories upon; but if we learn that nothing is real but the right, we shall have no dangerous inheritances, and fleshly ills will disappear.” (S&H p. 228)

I once heard a man ask his barber what caused baldness. The barber, bald himself, spoke about circulation and recommended tonics and massage. But finally he asked, “Was your father bald? Then undoubtedly you’ll be bald no matter what you do.”

Mrs. Eddy makes it plain that we must have an uplifted concept of parents if we are to have an uplifted concept of children. We read, “If some fortuitous circumstance places promising children in the arms of gross parents, often these beautiful children early droop and die, like tropical flowers born amid Alpine snows. If perchance they live to become parents in their turn, they may reproduce in their own helpless little ones the grosser traits of their ancestors. What hope of happiness, what noble ambition, can inspire the child who inherits propensities that must either be overcome or reduce him to a loathsome wreck?” (ibid. 61: 14-23) She goes on to say, “Nothing unworthy of perpetuity should be transmitted to children.” This passage used to trouble me because it sounded as though there was a power of heredity, that evil could be perpetuated in children because of the sins of parents. But I am sure Mrs. Eddy intended no such meaning. She was showing that we must uplift our concept of parents as well as children, in order to find the perfect manifestation of harmony and dominion. To think that children are going to be perfect in spite of their gross parents is not correct. But to have perfect children because both parents and children are perfect is scientific.

Parents have a sacred duty when having and rearing children. Our Leader says, “Is not the propagation of the human species a greater responsibility, a more solemn charge, than the culture of your garden or the raising of stock to increase your flocks and herds?” (ibid. 61:24) Just as husbands and wives need to work at their marriages in order to make them successful, so parents need to put forth their best efforts to be ideal parents in order to bring forth the greatest happiness to themselves and their children.

Can inherited evil propensities be overcome? Of course they can. But not in spite of gross parents, but because both parents and children are seen as the manifestation of infinite Love.

Recently I read in the Saturday Evening Post a very fine article written by a negro newspaper man, who was seeking to help his children on the subject of racial prejudice. He used the simple illustration that just as God creates a great variety of flowers, all different colors, just so some people have white skins, other people brown, and some black skins. But this does not make some better than others — there is just a beautiful variety, that’s all. He illustrated the point that the red rose should not try to be a white rose, or a white rose a red rose. Why not be content and happy the way we really are.

They used to believe that many diseases were inherited through germ cells. Each year the number of diseases on this list is becoming smaller. Authorities are beginning to see that it is not because of a germ that a child has the same physical problems as his mother or father. It is now recognized that it is because of mental imitations. A mother who is high strung, easily irritated, upset, and tense, may be subject to headaches. Her little daughter who imitates her mother in all other things, even to putting on mother’s high-heeled shoes and long dress, caring for her own doll just the way mother cares for her, is liable to imitate her mother’s disposition and tension. Soon she may find herself saying, “I have the same kind of headaches that my mother had.” But when we help both mother and daughter to be just like God, then the headaches will disappear from both mother and daughter.

Because a parent passes on from heart disease is no reason why a child should have the same trouble, unless the child imitates his parent by being tense, worried, anxious, and troubled. But children do not have to imitate a mortal, imperfect sense of things. They can see man as calm, quiet, and happy, and thus be free from disease. I’ve heard people say, “My mother died of cancer, and I’m afraid I’m getting the same thing.” We must help such a one to see that his mother never died of cancer or anything. As such a patient rejoices in the immortality of his mother, not thinking of any imperfect trait, but seeing the mother as the perfect expression of infinite good, he can be free from the fear of the belief in the reality of cancer.

The medical profession is in agreement that cancer is not hereditary. There are no cancer germs to be passed on from parents to children. When children stop imitating negative traits from a mortal sense of parenthood they will help themselves and their parents to be free from disease.

Now let us consider our true heritage as sons and daughters of God. Peter says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” (I Pet. 1:3, 4) We need to be aware of this rich inheritance, and help others to be aware of it also. You will find many beautiful passages in the Bible and Mrs. Eddy’s writings on the subject of true inheritance. I would encourage you to study these references with the help of your concordances. For instance, Mrs. Eddy says, “What a glorious inheritance is given to us through the understanding of omnipresent Love!” (Miscellaneous Writings p. 307) What a glorious inheritance we have through the teachings of Christian Science! Suppose a child believed that his parents were wicked, dishonest, impure, imperfect creatures, and then suddenly he learned that these people were not his parents at all, and that his true parents were loving kind, honest and decent. Wouldn’t that be inspiring news for him?

That’s what happens to us through our study of Christian Science. We learn that we’re not the children of imperfect mortal parents, and we discover who our real parent is — the Father-Mother God. This is the inspiring news that frees us from the fear of heredity.

Many people dream all their lives of the possibility of inheriting a fortune. How thrilled they are when they hear that this inheritance is to be given them. Just so in our study of Christian Science — it is a real thrill to learn of the inheritance that comes from our heavenly Father-Mother God. God wants you to be well, happy, and rich. Mrs. Eddy writes, “Think of this inheritance! Heaven right here, where angels are as men, clothed more lightly, and men as angels. . .” (ibid. 251) Yes, think of this inheritance! Think regularly about it, claim it as yours. That is what our Master did, and by this process found his spiritual dominion. Paul says that we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. Mrs. Eddy says that this heritage is a rich heritage, “dominion over all the earth.” (ibid. 331). And she tells us further that it behooves us to defend our heritage. It behooves us to declare times without number, day after day, that we are God’s perfect children, and therefore we have a rich heritage of infinite good.

All the good qualities from the heavenly Father-Mother God are constantly being presented as gifts to you — even the qualities of Love, Truth, spiritual mindedness, power, strength and ability. You have the right to claim this heritage and make good use of it. Our Leader says, “Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love.” (Pulpit and Press, p. 3) I think this is one of the most beautiful statements in Mrs. Eddy’s writings. This is not only your heritage, but the heritage of everyone — the heritage of your parents and your children. Jesus was very clear on this subject of inheritance. He said, “I came forth from the Father.” He knew the facts about his origin. Declare with spiritual understanding often, “I came forth from the Father-Mother God” and I include within every spiritual cell of my being the nature of the Father-Mother God — true spirituality, unlimited harmony, well-being, perfectly coordinated activity, strength, dominion, all good things. And nothing can dispossess me of this heritage. Nothing can take it away from me. As we live the spirit of the first line of the Lord’s Prayer we cannot help but have the right idea of inheritance. “Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.”

Environment

The truth about environment is found in the second line of the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come.” (Thy kingdom is come; Thou art ever-present). “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Enable us to know, — as in heaven, so on earth, — God is omnipotent, supreme). Jesus said the kingdom of heaven, or the kingdom of God, is at hand. This is the truth about your environment. Knowing the spiritual facts about environment produces health and harmony.

Wrong concepts in regard to environment produce disease. Not long ago I read a book by Dr. Rene Dubos, entitled “Mirage of Health.” Dr. Dubos is a very well-known medical authority. I would like to share a few interesting passages from this book, which shows how our health is closely related to a right concept of environment. He says, “The very process of living is a continual inter-play between the individual and his environment, often taking the form of a struggle resulting in injury or disease.”

From ancient time people have seen that health is found as one blends harmoniously with his environment, and that disease is a result of a sense of uneasiness in regard to one’s environment. The Chinese writer Chuang-Tju wrote of the time when the ancient men lived in a world of primitive simplicity. That was the time when the Yin and the Yang worked harmoniously, and the spirits of men and beasts did not interfere with the life of the people, for the four seasons were in order and all creation was unharmed, and the people did not die young. The word “yin” means the individual soul of a person, and the “yang” means his environment. When these were in perfect balance there was harmony.

People have dreamed a great deal about a paradise. They have sometimes thought of it as something that has been lost. You will remember Milton’s great epoch poem, “Paradise Lost.” Others have thought of paradise as something in the future — something that might be regained, a millennium, the kingdom of heaven. They have dreamed of the perfect environment as a place, a Shangri la.

Many have considered environment entirely from a physical standpoint. They have thought of it as a place where everything was beautiful and inspiring. When they have arrived at such a place they are still not happy and satisfied, because in its final analysis environment is mental.

Last year in our church the Committee on Publication for Indiana gave a very beautiful testimony, telling about a young woman who had the tobacco habit. She had worked on the subject but did not find her release. Then one Sunday morning she went to church and listened carefully to the lesson sermon. She said when she left the church everything outside looked different to her — everything appeared clean and pure. She was free from the desire for tobacco, and never smoked after that. You see through the church service she had gained that spiritual point of view which recognizes the substance, beauty, and pleasure of Spirit, so that the claims of matter became as nothing to her. Of course the trees, the houses, the church, and the street, did not change; but her view of them changed. In other words, she gained a right spiritual sense of environment.

It’s very important to know the truth about environment in order to find true health and harmony. Dr. Dubos says, “Any event in the outer world which impinges upon an individual modifies, however indirectly and slightly, the balance between his various organs and functions. In reality therefore, the internal environment should not be considered apart from the external environment. Shivering, or a pallor brought about either by exposure to cold, or by a sudden fear, is but the outward manifestation of a physiological disturbance which may alter indirectly the performance of many essential body mechanisms.”

If we stand in awe of evil forces and conditions outside, in our universe, as though they were real, intent upon harming us, we are afraid. And this fear affects our sense of individuality or body. The body is affected by the thought that the atmosphere is cold, or the thought that a group of people with whom we live are cold or indifferent. Therefore, in order to find true health, a normal sense of body, we must keep our thought of environment uplifted to the recognition that truly the kingdom of heaven is always at hand. It is certainly round about us, manifesting itself in our experience.

Dr. Dubos says, “The characteristics of the total environment, physical and social, determines in a large measure the types of diseases most prevalent in any given community.” He therefore brings out that drugs are not the solution for the problem of disease. He says, “Drugs cannot be effective in the long run unless steps have been taken to correct the physiological and social conditions originally responsible for the disease that is to be treated.” He shows that the improvement in health conditions of the world is not the result of modern medicine, anti-biotics, and tranquilizing pills, but the improvement that has come about as a result of better sanitary conditions, improved working conditions in factories, pure food laws, pure water, and things of that nature. In other words, people have improved their sense of environment through their right thinking and acting, and as a result many diseases have been reduced, and some completely eliminated.

In this regard you will remember that our Leader tells us in Retrospection and Introspection, page 70, “The right teacher of Christian Science lives the truth he teaches. Preeminent among men, he virtually stands at the head of all sanitary, civil, moral, and religious reform.” Christian Scientists through their devotion to purity of thought, have been insisting upon order, cleanliness, and sanitary conditions in society. Much can still be done along these lines, and Christian Scientists will always be in the foreground helping with all such reforms.

There is much that can be done in cleaning up the atmosphere in which we live, and this will have a good effect on the health of mankind. There is the problem of smog in our large cities. According to Dr. Dubos and many other authorities, this situation must be rectified in order to reduce many forms of disease. He speaks of smog as “the pestilence that walketh in darkness.” He makes this interesting statement: “There is perhaps some symbolism as yet incompletely deciphered in the visions that St. John the Divine had on the Island Patmos. The first horsemen of the Apocalypse he saw were Famine and Pestilence.”

You may think that this impure state of the atmosphere is a physical condition, and that there is not much we can do about it. But there is a great deal that can be done. Mind has already brought forth many inventions which will reduce the smoke from factories, the poisonous gases from automobiles, and other harmful elements entering our atmosphere. And Mind has many other inventions with which to keep the atmosphere entirely pure. We can help in the solution of this problem by knowing that Mind is constantly bringing forth the right ideas that produce health, harmony, and good atmosphere. Mind can also direct our legislative bodies to pass such laws and regulations which will cause our industries, and our individual citizens, to take the necessary precautions to preserve the purity of our atmosphere.

Some Scientists may say that because we live and move and breathe in God we can be healthy in spite of an impure atmosphere. And it is certainly true that our health does not depend upon any material thing. But we will help most by being at the head of all sanitary reform, eliminating the belief of a cause for disease called impure air.

Right now, there is a special problem in regard to atmosphere called fall-out, as the result of atomic explosions. There is much concern among many physical scientists on the effect of radiation from this fall-out. In The Saturday Evening Post of August 29th, 1959, one of the leading articles is, “Fall-out, The Silent Killer.” The question is asked, “How concerned should we be then about the amounts of radioactivity in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the milk we give our babies and growing children? Is fall-out partly responsible for the reported rise in leukemia? Is it inducing other forms of cancer?” There are many physical scientists who feel that we should discontinue all atomic bomb tests. These fall-out particles encircle the earth within a few days from an explosion. There are those who feel that such experiments with atomic bombs may deter an enemy from attacking us, and we are choosing the lesser of two evils. But there are others who feel keenly that if atomic war comes, and there are many explosions of atomic bombs, the drifting of these fall-out particles in the long run may do us as much damage as an enemy.

I am not entering into the political and military debate, but I present to you here a very important problem in regard to environment and atmosphere which you and I are called upon as Christian Scientists to help solve.

We may think of fall-out as a physical contamination of the atmosphere, but in the final analysis mind determines whether there shall be fall-out or not, whether bombs shall be exploded. And it is in this mental realm that we can contribute much by working effectively for world peace, and a regulation of atomic explosions.

Sometimes we hear it said that because God is all-powerful and all-loving we will be divinely protected in spite of the fall-out and atomic radiation. Here is another example in which we are seeking to realize that evil forces have no power, but we are not considering the important proposition that they likewise have no presence or reality. As we realize the omni-presence of divine Mind and its inspiring ideas with our government, and the governments of all other nations, we can begin to demonstrate the non-existence of those destructive mental forces which might manifest themselves outwardly in atomic bombs and atomic radiation. The best defense is always an intelligent offense. We must learn to stop error at its source instead of putting our armor on to prevent it from reaching us or harming us. Our metaphysical work for the peaceful solution of all industrial, national, and international problems, can do much toward keeping our atmosphere pure and health producing. From this and many other statements it is emphasized that it is not enough to try to doctor the body. We must do something about the environment of man. Here Christian Science has the perfect remedy. You will remember that through our class work I emphasized the fact that we must think in terms of perfect God, perfect universe, and then perfect man. In my first lecture I have emphasized that when we think in terms of perfect God and perfect man and try to be well and free in spite of imperfect environment, we are in for trouble. Man is perfect because the whole of God’s creation is perfect. Disease can be eliminated by helping mankind to have a pure, perfect atmosphere in which to live.

In recent years there has been an increase of emotional and mental diseases in the experience of mankind. These also involve an individual’s thought in regard to environment. Many individuals have dreamed about the time they would no longer have to work, when they could have a beautiful home and everything they wanted. Often when they have acquired these things they have become bored with them. They find they’re no happier than they were before, and sometimes less happy. It is our correct mental sense of values and realities that makes for happiness, and not material things or material environment.

If a heavy smoker and drinker went to heaven where there was no tobacco or liquor, he might exclaim, “This isn’t heaven, it’s hell.” Our interests, our sense of values, determine our thought whether environment is good or bad.

Many individuals want an atmosphere or environment of conflict. They think it’s good. They say, “I like a good fight.” They sometimes stay home from church on Wednesday evening to watch a wrestling or boxing match. If you bring fights and struggles into the environment of your living room through your television, you have brought a sense of struggle and battle and conflict into your environment. And what is in your consciousness is often outwardly expressed in your experience. If you like a good fight, you’ll have a good fight.

Others are interested in emotional, social, and human conflicts that come through soap-box operas and some plays on television. They bring this atmosphere into their home and live in this environment. They do it because they want to. But they should not be surprised if this atmosphere of conflict effects their thoughts, their feelings, and experience.

People who like a good fight, a good argument, a good struggle, a good conflict — well, if that’s what they like, bless them, then they’ll find it.

Some say, “You can’t do any creative writing of stories, plays, or articles, if you don’t have conflict therein.” But the best stories, plays, and articles, have been those that illustrate how individual conflicts, social conflicts, national and international conflicts, may be resolved through constructive thinking and living.

Winston Churchill once wrote, “Man has never sought tranquility alone. His nature drives him forward to fortunes, which for better or for worse, are different from those which it is in his power to pause and enjoy.” If that’s the way an individual thinks, then that’s the way his life will be — a restless, striving for something beyond, a failure to enjoy the glories of heaven and earth at hand.

Here is another interesting quotation from Dubos: “Not satisfied with changing their environment, men also crave for changes in their social atmosphere. Their utopias have never been able to keep pace with their fundamental restlessness, with their eternal dream of a new Jerusalem.”

Here are some important questions: Do people really want this new Jerusalem, eternal peace, tranquility and happiness, perfect health and harmony? Do they want everybody else to have these same things too? Do they want an environment where old things have passed away, and all things are become new — where there is no sorrow or crying, no pain or death? Do they want to live in a perfect atmosphere of Life and Mind? They can, of course, but they have to want it, and think it, and regard it as a reality in order to have it.

Here is the most shocking statement in Dr. Dubos’ book. It is the final paragraph. “While it may be comforting to imagine a life free of stresses and strains, in a carefree world, this will remain an idle dream. Man cannot hope to find another paradise on earth, because paradise is a static concept, while human life is a dynamic process. Man can escape danger only by renouncing adventure, by abandoning that which has given to the human condition its unique character and genius among the rest of living things. Since the day of the cave man the earth has never been a garden of Eden, but a valley of decision, where resilience is essential to survival. The earth is not a resting place. Man has elected to fight, not necessarily for himself, but for the process of emotional, intellectual, and ethical growth that goes on forever. To grow in the midst of danger is the fate of the human race, because it is a law of the spirit.”

I have written a big “NO” in the border of that paragraph. That is certainly not the law of the spirit of God, of good — the concept of eternal struggle, conflict, stress, and fight. Because people have consciously or unconsciously accepted such a sense of values, they have found life that way. Because many people have regarded the battle, the fight, the struggle of life as the ideal, that’s the way it forever seems to them.

Last year after a lecture a man came up and insisted that evil was real. After a considerable discussion he said, “Well, I don’t care what you believe, Mr. Rieke, I believe in the reality of sin, disease and death.” I told him that if one believes in the reality of sin, disease and death, that’s hell. If he wanted hell there wasn’t much I could do about it. But that Christian Science had taught me to believe in the reality of life, Truth and Love. This reveals heaven the way our Master revealed it to people. If people insist in believing in the reality of good and evil forces, they see evidence of these positive and negative conditions round about them. This is certainly not what the perfect God creates or sees. That is not what Christ Jesus believed in as real. He helped people to find the kingdom of heaven on earth. And you too, in reality, want this eternal peace which is not static, but which is truly dynamic, unfolding itself in infinite beauty and harmony. To declare war, to fight, to struggle, is truly the old-fashioned static condition, maintaining the status quo. To work for peace, to help establish the kingdom of heaven on earth, to bring paradise to everyone, is the dynamic way.

During the past year Dorothy and I have had a most thrilling adventure travelling around the world. Every day was different. But every experience was inspiring. We stayed in a different motel or hotel almost every night, slept in a different bed, ate hot dogs for lunch, and drove many thousands of miles. There was plenty of adventure, but there was no strife or conflict. Mrs. Eddy says, “We live in an age of divine Love’s adventure to be All-in-all.” (My. 158:9) That is the kind of adventure I’m interested in, and I know that’s the kind of adventure you want.

Let us think constructively about environment as God knows it. Paul says, “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” Because we live in a God who is Love, environment must be perfect, beautiful, harmonious, and peaceful. We do not live in a god of war, called Mars. Therefore, we do not live in an environment of conflict, struggle, and fight. Our Leader tells us, “Pilgrim on earth thy home is heaven.” Your abiding place is all-harmonious. But you have to want it that way, understand it that way, and see it that way to have it that way.

Every case that comes to you for healing can bring inspiration and exhilaration as you see the law of God operating to produce harmony and freedom. There is no burden in the work of Love. You can be just as safe on the highway, or twenty thousand feet up in the airplane, as you are in your own rocking chair, if you’re rejoicing in the perfection of the atmosphere through which you’re travelling. And of course, we rejoice that this kingdom of heaven is not only with us, but with everyone we meet.

Several years ago, a young girl of this Association was riding home on a bus. A man next to her spoke in an objectionable manner. When she got off the bus he followed her. She was tempted to run or call for help. Instead she prayed. She knew that she lived in the kingdom of heaven, which was peopled with God’s perfect spiritual ideas, and motivated by divine Principle. She had to go through a dark street, and he was close behind her. When she came to her door she turned and asked why he had followed her. He replied that at first he had planned to do her harm, but somewhere along the way the thought changed to a sincere desire to see her safely home. You see, she carried her heaven right with her. And even the dark places were lighted by the presence of divine Love.

Your environment is never a physical condition from without. It is a mental atmosphere within your own thought. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says (p. 520) “Spirit acts through the Science of Mind, never causing man to till the ground, but making him superior to the soil. Knowledge of this lifts man above the sod, above earth and its environments, to conscious spiritual harmony and eternal being.”

If you want the perfect environment of a beautiful, clean home you can have it, by loving the idea of perfection, by rejoicing constantly that your home is heaven, by believing in the reality of good, and by repudiating every quality of thought that is unlike God, His beauty, harmony, and perfection. You can have perfect environment by understanding that it alone is real.

In one of our hymns we read, “In atmosphere of Love divine, We live, and move, and breathe.” This is your environment. You can be comfortable whether it’s raining or snowing, whether you’re on a high mountain or down in the valley, whether you’re in a field of golden-rod, or in a meadow of hay. Mrs. Eddy says, “To the awakened consciousness, the Bethlehem babe has left his swaddling-clothes (material environments) for the form and comeliness of the divine ideal, which has passed from a corporeal to the spiritual sense of Christ and is winning the heart of humanity with ineffable tenderness.” (My. 257:6-11). We too can leave our swaddling-clothes, our immature sense of discordant, material environment, our interests in conflicts, fights, struggles, battles, war, poverty, disease, and death, for the form and comeliness of the divine ideal. We too can find the paradise of God here and now.

Conclusion

Heredity and environment — our Master and Christian Science gives us the answer through the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. (Our Father-Mother God, all-harmonious, Adorable One.)” Here we find the clear statement of our origin and we learn what our true heritage is — the infinite good that comes from God. “Thy kingdom come. (Thy kingdom is come; Thou art ever-present.) Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Enable us to know, — as in heaven, so on earth, — God is omnipotent, supreme.”) The realization of this truth gives us the true sense of environment, wherein we find only health, peace, beauty, prosperity, and happiness. The realization of these simple truths gives us each day our daily bread of spiritual inspiration and guidance, wherein we find complete harmony and dominion, the paradise of God.

Prayer

Everyone would like to know how he can pray more effectively. Prayer is communion with God. But the trouble is that we often do too much of the communing, the talking, and do not listen sufficiently to what the heavenly Father-Mother God says to His beloved child. The patriarchs of old were good listeners. That’s the reason they had such good results from their prayers, their communion with God.

You know our Leader says that “If Spirit or the power of divine Love bear witness to the truth, this is the ultimatum, the scientific way, and the healing is instantaneous.” (Science and Health, page 411) You see that true prayer is a mental means of letting God express His right ideas to us. Our Leader tells us that the inter-communion is always from the divine Mind to its idea.

Several years ago I gave you an assignment, asking you to receive a communication from God each day for a while. In other words, you were to write down on paper what the heavenly Father-Mother God said to His child. You know Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many others in the Bible wrote down on paper what God said to them. These are some of the most inspiring parts of the Bible.

When you write down on paper what God is saying to you, you’ll have graphic proof that first, God is truly talking, expressing Himself. And secondly, that you are listening, and have heard His word.

Over the past several years I have given this assignment to many patients in helping them to pray more effectively, and I have read many of these communications and they have revealed to me much of the patient’s thought in regard to his relationship to God. And by this means I have been able to help many to have a better sense of oneness with God.

Many of these communications have been full of commands. Do this, and don’t do that. Then I have been able to point out that Mind does not command its ideas — Mind affirms its ideas. When a command is given there is always an implication that there are two ways of going, but in an affirmation, there is only one. Mind does not say, “Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect,” but rather — “Ye are perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Mind does not say, “Be sincere, active, loving, and kind.” Rather it says, “You are sincere, active, loving and kind.”

As you realize that Mind affirms its ideas rather than commands its ideas, you will have a much closer, warmer, and intimate sense of relationship to God. For in the thought of command there is always a separateness — the commander and the commanded. But in the thought of affirmation there is a oneness between Mind and its idea. Mind affirms itself, and the result is idea.

Another observation I have made when reviewing these letters is this — many people are too negative in their approach toward religion and communion with God. There are too many statements such as, “You are not afraid. You are not limited. You are not sick. You are not unhappy.” These are affirmations of fact, or a denial of error of course, but a God who is infinite good does not know anything about sickness, unhappiness, fear, or imperfection — not even enough to deny them. His own infinite allness denies the possibility of anything unlike Him. But He knows nothing about any negative conditions. He knows only His positive perfection.

When giving a Christian Science treatment or praying for another, you may sometimes find it helpful to receive a communication from God for them. Take a piece of paper, write down, “Dear Mrs. Smith,” and then think about what the perfect divine Mind says to its idea. You already know the negative claims to handle. Let God affirm His absolute truth which reveals these claims as nothing. After you have received such a communication read it over reverently, rejoicing that this is what the divine Mind is revealing unto your patient. Have that impersonal sense of treatment. Your duty and privilege are just to listen to what God is affirming. As you do this you will see that you are not listening to what God is saying to you about your patient, but you are listening to what God is saying to your patient. You’re almost eavesdropping, as it were — taking a peek at God’s communication to the patient. You are putting off a false sense of responsibility and letting God do His proper work.

Your work as a Christian Science Practitioner is that of a listener. You are listening for God’s word, and you’re helping the patient to listen to the Truth and to listen to nothing else. This is a joyous thing to do.

We can all do a much better job in realizing our oneness and closeness to God along these lines. I am asking you all to get yourself a notebook immediately after this Association, and keep a diary for the next year, a diary of communications from God. Write down each day what God says to you as His beloved child. Some communications may be a page long, others just a line or so. But keep your thought truly open for fresh inspiration, and make sure that you are thinking so correctly about God that there are no commands or negatives. As thoughts come to you during the day jot them down, and before you go to bed at night make sure you have entered these divine communications in your diary.

I am asking you to discipline yourself along these lines because if you really listen, and get in the habit of listening, you will hear. This is not something to do just once and then forget about it. It is something to do so regularly that the voice of God is the only voice in our lives. I want every member of this Association to have concrete proof that God is talking to him daily, and that he is listening. This will unfold the most beautiful and inspiring experiences in your daily affairs.

Practical Spiritual Lessons Learned From The Bible Stories In The Book Of Genesis

The Story of Cain and Abel

Sometimes you will meet in your practice those who wonder why things do not work out well for them, while others seem to have all the blessings. Here the story of Cain and Abel can be very helpful. You will remember that Abel’s gift was accepted of the Lord, but Cain’s was not. He became wroth, and his countenance fell; he was mad, unhappy, and the smiles disappeared from his face.

He was asked why he had accepted such a negative attitude toward life. God told him if he did well his gift would be accepted, everything would go well with him, and sin, or all evil, would be inactive and powerless at the door of his thought.

Then he was encouraged to assert his dominion over all evil instead of letting it have dominion over him. These are the Bible words: “Unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shall rule over him.”

But Cain decided that instead of eliminating every negative unhappy thought, and prove his dominion over evil, he would just eliminate his brother. Then of course you know what happened. He lost that wonderful sense of the presence of God, good. The Bible says, “Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod.” Because he was now thinking in terms of the absence of God, good, he began to dream the dream of mortality.

What a wonderful lesson for all of us. It is never some person in our home that stands in the way of our happiness and success. Never someone in our office, our church, our government, or in the government of some other nation; it is only negative mortal thinking that would claim to interfere with our happiness. And we can rule such thinking out of our experience and find the continual blessings that come from the understanding of the omnipresence of God. Then God will continue to talk to us. And because we are listening to God constantly, our giving will come from the heart and we will see ourselves as the very radiation of the infinite inspiration of good. Then our experience will consist of continuous and eternal happiness.

The Story of The Flood

Since God or good is All-in-all, the suppositional opposite called evil must be nothing. Just as God reveals Himself as All-in-all, just so evil reveals itself as nothing. This revelation is known as the self-destruction of evil. Evil cannot exist in the omni-presence of good. That is what the flood was in the days of Noah — a manifestation of the self-destruction of evil. Sometimes it has manifested itself as a fire, an epidemic, or a war. Today it is symbolized as the atheistic and the materialistic philosophy of Communism, flooding the world with its lies, false propaganda, threats and hatred. What are we to do, who, like Noah, have learned the joy of walking with God? What are we expected to do, who have gained a glimpse of the perfection of God, the universe and man? We too must build an ark wherein we can find safety and security, that we too may be buoyed up while error reveals its own nothingness. This ark is the realization of the perfection of God, the universe, and man. It is the Christ, the spiritual understanding of being. Only in this ark can we find true safety and security. Our ark must be built according to the pattern inspired by God, consistent in its perfection.

Into this ark, the realization of the perfection of all things, we take every member of our family, and see him as perfect, whole and free. We take all nature into the ark, the male and female of every creature, to see that the universe is truly a spiritual manifestation of the kingdom of heaven at hand. We leave none of God’s ideas out of the ark to be drowned in the flood waters of materialism. We must stay in our ark of spiritual understanding, and not turn constantly to material sense testimony to see whether the floods have receded. The dove will come to our window with the olive branch to assure us that all is well, that evil has been revealed as non-existent. Then we too may go forth from the ark in the realization that there is no error left to destroy itself. We can see all of God’s ideas as free and perfect in the universe of Love. We too can come to the realization that there doesn’t have to be another flood, another struggle with error, another war, another strike, another business depression, another disaster. A rainbow appears in our sky, a beautiful rainbow of seven vivid colors, representing the seven aspects of God’s being. Here is our eternal assurance of peace, happiness, health and harmony.

The Story of The Tower of Babel

Were you ever tempted to believe that you wanted to make a name for yourself? You wanted to do something whereby you would never be forgotten? Did you dream of building a high tower up into heaven so that the world would look and exclaim, “Oh how wonderful he is!” Near Stratford-on-Avon in England a man who wanted desperately to be mayor of the city, but never succeeded, built an obelisk on the top of a hill, reaching high into the sky, in memory of himself that his name might not be forgotten. The cathedrals of Europe are full of statues and plaques erected so that someone’s name will not be forgotten — someone who tried to make a name for himself.

On the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter wanted to build three temples, one for Moses, one for Elias, and one for Jesus, to commemorate them. But such a thought only brought a cloud to their consciousness, a cloud to hide the vision of the perfect, eternal, spiritual man. Jesus wanted no temples to be built in commemoration of him and his name. He knew that God had given him a name, and that name was the Son of God, the Christ, Immanuel. He did not try to make a name for himself; he let God express the divine Word through him. He accepted God’s name for himself.

Most of the wars and disturbances in the world are the result of people trying to make names for themselves. There are the Caesars, the Napoleons, the Mussolinis, the Hitlers, the Stalins, the Khrushchevs, the Castros — people who are trying to do something materially with bricks, and stones, and mortar, whereby they might be remembered — building towers of Babel, attempting to reach into high heaven.

In this multiplicity of human ambitions to make names for themselves is found the confusion of tongues — people who might speak the same language, but yet might not understand each other; people who speak different languages with no interpreter to translate the purpose of man to live in unity and harmony with his brother.

Possibly you will remember the sonnet “Ozymandias” written by Shelley. It reads as follows:

“I met a traveler from an antique land Who said: ‘Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed. And on the pedestal these words appear – “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:

Look on my works, ye Mighty and despair!” Nothing besides remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.’”

Don’t try to make a name for yourself. Let God express His divine name, His nature, in your heart. Be God-centered instead of self-centered, and then you’ll speak the universal language of Love and Truth. You will speak to your brother in the language he can understand, and you will understand him because you realize he is speaking the same language of Love.

The Story of Abram and Lot

This is a good story to tell the patient who is disturbed by business competition. You remember how Abram and Lot dwelt together, but because they both had great flocks and herds the land was not adequate to take care of both of them.

There arose a strife between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen. Abram said, “Let there be no strife between us, for we be brethren.” He gave Lot the choice to go one way, and we went the other way. Abram flourished and so did Lot for a while. But then things went wrong for Lot, and Abram came to his rescue.

Let us never accept the belief that there isn’t business enough for everyone. We can’t afford to let strife abide in our heart or permit it in the thoughts of others because of the belief that supply and opportunity are limited. We need to lift up our vision in the realization that good is infinite, there is plenty for all, abundant opportunity to serve, and abundant reward for good service. If your competitor goes one way and seems to take certain customers, turn to God for divine inspiration through which you may find an even better way to be of service. Mind has infinite resources, and these are always at your disposal. When your competitor gets into trouble and loses all he has, be magnanimous, go to this rescue, for you will be abundantly blessed and enriched by identifying yourself always as an idea of divine Love, full of unselfishness and compassionate interest in the welfare of others. Then your name too will be changed from Abram, which means “an exalted ambitious father” to Abraham, which means “father of a great nation, loyalty, faithfulness.”

The Story of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah

Sometimes in your practice people will come to you who feel they just must have children. They are not going to try to make a name for themselves, by building a tower that will reach high heaven, but they want children who will perpetuate their name, children who might do what they have dreamed of doing, but have never accomplished, children who might be a monument to them. Sometimes they feel they must have children by whatever means. And this can be a dangerous attitude. Here the story of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah can bring true inspiration. Abraham and Sarah wanted children but Sarah was barren. Sarah became desperate and asked Abraham to take Hagar, her Egyptian handmaid as his wife, that there might be a child. Ishmael was born, but he was not a credit unto the family and there was strife and jealousy in the home.

Sometimes people today are so anxious to have children that this very anxiety makes them barren. Then they become very anxious to adopt a child without enough sincere prayer on the subject — just any child will do, they almost say. But unless the child comes unto them from the Lord as the result of demonstrating the truth about relationships, it will not be the happiest experience. It would be a dangerous attitude for a man to take — “I just want to get married; any woman will do.” Or for a girl to say, “I’m so eager to get married — just anyone that wears pants.” The relationship of husband and wife, and parent and children, these are very sacred relationships, and they should be discovered in heaven to bring out the greatest happiness and inspiration.

Finally, Abraham prayed with great sincerity (and he didn’t do all the talking either) — he listened. That is one of the most marvelous things about Abraham and some of the other patriarchs, they were good listeners; they were willing to be still and hear what God had to say on the subject. God was so real to him, and he was such a good listener, that the divine ideas of inspiration seemed as audible sound to him. When God said that Sarah, at the age of ninety, would bear a son, Abraham knew this would happen for he heard the very word of God spoken.

You will remember that Abraham was visited by three angels, and they too were so real to him they appeared as men. And they affirmed that Sarah would have a child. Sarah at first laughed at the idea, but the angel affirmed the great truth, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” But before Sarah could bear a child Abraham had to change his concept of her from her former name of Sarai, which means, “my little princess who is contentious” to Sarah, a princess who has dominion. Then Isaac came. There is much we can learn about children from this story. We must see them as spiritual ideas instead of mortal, material creatures, as Mrs. Eddy emphasizes on page 463 of our textbook. We must see them as born of Truth and Love, born of Spirit, born of God, and then they will never bring us unhappiness and suffering.

The Story of Hagar and Ishmael

Remember that Hagar and her son Ishmael were sent out into the wilderness of Beersheba. Finally, the water was all gone from their bottle, and it looked as though they would have to die from thirst. She wept bitter tears because of course she did not want to see her son die. She was resentful toward Abraham and Sarah. Evil was very real to her, and good was far off and absent. Then she heard the voice of God saying, “What aileth thee, Hagar?” She was told to wipe away her tears and open her eyes, and behold, directly in front of her there was a well of water. This enabled them to live. Sometimes you may have a patient who thinks he is having a raw deal. He too is blinding himself with the bitter tears of unhappiness and resentment. He is thinking so much of the reality and power of evil, and his belief in the absence of good, that he cannot see God’s blessings directly before him. Your treatment, the very work of God, must bring a challenging question, “What aileth thee, O man?” And your treatment must provide the answer, “Nothing.” There is nothing to be unhappy and resentful about. Your treatment must wipe away the tears and open the eyes of your patient, that they too might see the well of water directly in front of them, the inspiration of God which will meet their every need.

The Story of The Judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah

Were you not impressed by the manner in which Abraham recognized angels when they came to his tent? They were so real to him that he thought of them as men. He entertained them and cared well for them. How important it is for us to be listening for the voice of God. Then His angels will come unto us. His inspiring ideas will be very substantial and real. Abraham did not entertain angels unawares, he was aware of their presence and their true nature. God is speaking to us constantly. Are we listening?

Lot also took these angels into his house — his consciousness. He defended them from the onslaught of materialism without, and the angels revealed that error was in the process of destroying itself — that there would be a great fire in Sodom and Gomorrah. He was told to flee from the city and seek refuge in the hills. He obeyed. But you will remember how his wife looked back, possibly longing for the conveniences of yesteryears, or having a curiosity as to what was happening to error as it destroyed itself. And you know the story says that she was turned into a pillar of salt. How important it is for us to listen for the voice of God, and then follow His direction, keeping our eyes straight ahead on the goal, our ideal. Then we too shall find safety in the hills of exalted consciousness. What happiness is found in allowing our thoughts to be directed outward, upward, and heavenward!

The Story of The Offering of Isaac

How often people idolize their children, and in so doing they sacrifice them. How often people make an idol of some person or some material possession, putting these before God, and thus they lose their true sense of balance, and eventually even the cherished possession.

Abraham had prayed for and waited a long time for that wonderful son, Isaac. You can imagine how he doted on his son. He was perfectly willing to spoil him. Nothing was too good for Isaac. The servants did all the work, Isaac was pampered. The real potential man in that young lad was being cruelly sacrificed. Abraham was willing to make every sacrifice for Isaac, and thus he was making a god out of his son. But Abraham had learned to listen to the voice of God, which revealed to him the mistake he was making. Instead of sacrificing everything for Isaac, he must be willing to sacrifice every false god that he might worship the one true God. He must take his stand that his happiness was not wrapped up in that boy.

It was not Isaac that made him happy, even though the very word Isaac means “laughter, pleasure, happiness.” It was God who made him happy.

That must have been a very soul-searching experience for Abraham as he went up the mountain with his son Isaac. And when he was truly willing to sacrifice the lad he found he didn’t have to. But he did have to stop sacrificing everything for Isaac. I am sure that Abraham came down from the mountain a purified and inspired individual. He had learned the lesson of letting Isaac grow into a true sense of manhood. There is a very vital lesson in this story for all of us. Even though we may not have children, everyone has his Isaac, the thing for which he is making a sacrifice. Great sacrifices to send children to college, sacrificing to buy a new car, or a new home, or a new dress. God sometimes has to come second, or third, until some of these goals are reached. As we listen to the voice from within we too hear the words of God telling us to stop sacrificing our lives for material things. As we put God first and love Him supremely, we find we do not have to lose our children, our homes, our cars. But we must come to the place where they are no longer our gods, governing and controlling us. We must find that true dominion which comes from worshipping God supremely and letting Him express His true being through us.

Sometimes people do not want to see their children grow up. They would like to keep them as little tots. And through such an attitude they bring damage to their children. We must be willing to sacrifice the little Isaacs that they may mature normally and naturally into fine men and women. Sometimes parents do not want to lose their children through marriage. They find all sorts of excuses whereby to hold on to them, and to prevent normal and happy marriages. We must be willing to sacrifice our children at the altar of marriage. Then we find we do not lose them, but rather our family circles are enlarged and beautified.

The Story of The Wooing of Rebekah

I am glad that many of you commented favorably on the story of the wooing of Rebekah. Abraham prayed with great sincerity that Isaac would find the right wife, the perfect one. You will remember how he sent his servant into the land of his own people to find a bring back such a wife for Isaac. Didn’t you admire Abraham’s servant, the way he prayed faithfully to fulfill his master’s desire? He knew constantly that everything was working together for good, because they all loved God. And doesn’t Rebekah present a beautiful picture? Here was not a selfish, spoiled girl who was thinking about what she could get. She was happy to share the water from her pitcher with this servant of Abraham. But that wasn’t enough, she was even happy to draw the water for all of his camels, and you know they drink a lot of water. Her mother and father, and her brother Laban, everyone was most cooperative. I am sure Abraham’s prayer had something to do with this. Although her parents suggested that Rebekah stay about ten days more with them to think it over, she was listening to the voice of God, and she was ready to go immediately. When she saw Isaac coming across the field she immediately loved him, and he loved her. This is one of the most beautiful love stories in the Bible. Parents ought to read that full story about once a month, until they have so much of the spirit that Abraham expressed that they are absolutely confident that their sons and daughters will meet the most perfect companion to establish a very happy marriage. Parents ought to read these wonderful Bible stories to their children at an early age, that they gain that spiritual inspiration which reveals that divine Mind relates each idea harmoniously to every other idea, according to God’s wonderful plan. Don’t wait until your children are grown up and are ready for marriage before you help them to love the kind of ideas as expressed in Rebekah and Isaac. Then you will find that they live up to these ideals to discover that life is truly a happy adventure.

The Story of The Home Life of Jacob and Esau

You will remember that Jacob and Esau were born as twins to Isaac and Rebekah. Esau was the outdoor type and liked to hunt and fish with his dad. He was of course his father’s favorite. Jacob was the indoor type, favored by his mother. It’s so important for parents not to play favorites. You will remember the trouble it brought into this home of long ago — how Isaac sent Esau forth to hunt venison and prepare it for him, and how Rebekah persuaded Jacob to work a deception on his father. This was not Jacob’s idea. His mother put him up to it. But he didn’t protect himself from that erroneous suggestion that deception could bring him a blessing. As you know, their family life was disrupted, and Jacob had to flee to a far country, while Esau stayed at home to receive the inheritance. Isaac and Rebekah would have done better to have followed Abraham’s example, and instead of playing favorites, to have prayed sincerely on the subject of marriage for their sons. Esau married the two Hittite girls, and as the Bible says, “They were a grief of mind unto Isaac and Rebekah.”

The Story of Jacob and His Family Life

Jacob went unto the land of his mother to select a wife who had the same background, and the same ideals. Jacob’s first night away from home was not too pleasant. We read that he took a rock for a pillow (someone in the Association mentioned that many of us often build up a rock pile and then try to sleep on it). That evening Jacob prayed sincerely and faced up with the facts of being. He promised to listen to the voice of God, and that night he had a dream. He saw a ladder reaching up into heaven, and angels ascending and descending upon it. Here was a good lesson for all of us. Man is in communion with God, his heavenly source of being, so he can truly ascend up into heaven or recognize himself as in heaven. And he can find these heavenly communications constantly coming to him. This experience made a great impression upon Jacob, for he pledged himself that night to be faithful and loyal unto God.

You will remember how he fell in love with Rachel. And Laban said he could have her if he worked seven years for her. A deception was worked on him just as he had worked a deception on his father. Instead of being married to Rachel, he discovered he was married to Leah, and had to work another seven years for Rachel. He states that ten times Laban changed his wage rate after he had done the work. He was learning the hard way that deception is not a quality of God and must be demonstrated as unreal. But I enjoyed the line that read, “These seven years went very quickly for Jacob, because he was so much in love with Rachel.” When our heart is full of love there is a timelessness to our experience.

When I read of the sense of jealousy between Rachel and Leah, and the two handmaids vying for the affection of Jacob by seeing how many children they could bear for him, I was rather grateful that the civilized world does not practice polygamy any more. I am sure that our way is a much easier way to live.

The Story of The Meeting of Jacob and Esau

What wonderful lessons we can learn from the meeting of Jacob and Esau. God recommended that Jacob go back to his own country to be reconciled to Esau. And Jacob was frightened, especially when his servants brought him word that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men. You will remember how he divided the families into two groups, so that if one was destroyed the other could live. He sent gifts unto Esau of goats, sheep, cattle, and camels. But the night before he was to meet Esau, as you know, he wrestled. It says, “There wrestled a man with him.” He was certainly wrestling with his concept of what man is. He had been thinking of himself as a deceptive, fearful mortal, and of Esau as a threatening, murderous man. He was wrestling with what Mrs. Eddy called “a mortal concept of life.” What he was doing in his primitive way was what we are taught to do in Christian Science. He was seeking to cling steadfastly to God and His idea of man. He had a disjointed sense of relationships which was now externalized in a hip out of place. And he was resolved to heal the situation completely, once and for all. Just to have things improved a little bit was not enough for him. Remember the thought came, “Let me go for the day breaketh.” But Jacob answered, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” He was not going to stop his treatment until he was completely happy about it.

Just as Jacob had thoroughly pledged himself at Bethel to live according to the law of God, now he pledged himself to apply this law of God completely to the solution of all relationship problems. When the question came, “What is thy name” or nature, he first answered “Jacob” which means a supplanter. Then his name was changed to Israel, which means “one who has prevailed through God.” When Jacob asked the name of the angelic thought, he was asked, “Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?” It could only be God talking. Jacob realized this because he called the place Peniel, meaning “the face of God, divine presence.” He said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Jacob knew before he met Esau that all was well. In the presence of God as Love there can be no discord or hatred.

What a tremendous lesson for all of us. Each day we are dealing with our concept of man, of ourselves, and of others. Some of us get a little improved concept and are tempted to be satisfied. Jacob was taking no chances. He would not cease his work until he saw God face to face — until he saw man as the very image and likeness of God. As you and I stand steadfast in the Truth as Jacob did, our natures are also changed so that we too are princes prevailing with God.

You know the rest of the story. When Jacob met Esau the next day Esau embraced him. There was nothing but love expressed, and Jacob said, “Last night I saw thy face as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.” He not only saw Esau as the very expression of God’s perfect being, but in that perfect expression he knew there could only be loving and kind thoughts toward him.

This is one of the most important lessons on the subject of relationships, for you and me to learn. It’s later than we think. Tomorrow we’re going to meet the boss, that relative, Castro, Khrushchev. They are coming with four hundred men. What are the results going to be? Have we given ourselves the kind of Christian Science treatment we’re capable of giving? Have we really listened to the angel thought? Has our name been changed to one who prevails through God? Then we can say, “Last night I saw thy face as it were the very face of God, and I was pleased with you, and I knew that you were pleased with me.” That is the challenge. That is the real practice of Christian Science.

The Story of Joseph

The story of Joseph is one of the most inspiring in the Bible. It was the one most of you chose to comment upon. In the early part of the story we learn how important it is for parents not to have favorites. The Bible says that Israel loved Joseph more than all his children. So Joseph dreamed he was better than others and would have dominion over them. He told his brothers about his dreams. How important it is to keep our sacred communications unto ourselves. We must learn to uplift out concept of others, as well as ourselves, to demonstrate that true humility which gets along with everyone. Joseph had lessons to learn, and he learned them. Through erroneous thinking we sometimes stray from the Father’s house and fall into the pits. It is then that we begin to do some serious thinking as Joseph must have done.

Because of the intelligence and honesty expressed, Joseph was soon made overseer of all the affairs of Potiphar, captain of the guards. He did not bemoan his fate but made the best of all things. Joseph however, had another lesson to learn. The same one his father learned at Peniel. There was a streak of self-righteousness in Joseph. He was seeking to think rightly and correctly in regard to others, but he didn’t wrestle thoroughly enough to uplift his concept of Potiphar’s wife, to know that she, as God’s child, could only think honorably toward him. We must rejoice daily that when anyone thinks of us, mentions our name, there arises in consciousness that wonderful host of angels protecting both their thought and ours, giving them honorable and pure thoughts in regard to us, as well as giving us the same kind of thoughts toward them. Let’s not feel sorry for Joseph in this experience, but rather learn from it the importance of doing a complete job in protecting our experience from every claim of a mind separate or apart from God or good.

Many of you commented upon the fact that no matter what circumstances Joseph found himself in, he did not waste time in thoughts of self-pity, but made the best of the situation, reflecting intelligence, Truth and Love.

Through his spiritual enlightenment he was able to bring divine inspiration to men in the prison, and before long he had the opportunity to serve the king’s baker and butler by interpreting their dreams. Eventually he was asked to interpret the king’s dream. And you know he said, “It is not in me, God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” It is so important for all of us to recognize that there is no power in us to do good. It is God manifesting Himself that gives the answer of peace. And we are happy to let God use us in expressing his work of truth. Joseph had learned not only to love others, but to recognize that they appreciated his abilities and capacities as leader. He soon found himself Secretary of Agriculture.

Joseph’s brothers eventually came to Egypt to get food. One of you complained because Joseph did not make himself immediately known and embrace his brothers. But Joseph had learned that we all have lessons to learn. Mrs. Eddy says, “Over a wounded sense of its own error, let not mortal thought resuscitate too soon.” (Mis. page 145) This is an important lesson for all of us to learn. In dealing with your patients and others, tell them what God directs you to say. Don’t try to move them along faster than they are ready. In disciplining children don’t be too hasty in saying, “Now let’s forget the whole thing.” Let them learn their lesson that good deeds bring rewards and that bad deeds bring punishment and unhappy experiences.

We will not go into all the details of Joseph’s contact with his brothers. Suffice it to say that he was letting God reveal in the consciousness of all of them a finer and better sense of manhood, and they were truly learning their lessons. Finally, when they were going to have to leave Benjamin with Joseph and they knew this would be more than their father could bear, they pleaded for mercy. Please read the climax of the story. (Gen. 45: 1-9, 14, 15)

What wonderful lessons we can all learn from this beautiful story. I have never read it but what there is a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. We learn that Love is very real, intelligent, dynamic and powerful. Love can move mountains and transform lives. As we walk with Love along the way, as Joseph did, we can only find peace, security, and dominion for ourselves and bring happiness and true peace to our family and to all mankind. You should read this story often to your children until they almost know it by memory. It will do much more than preaching about the power and presence of Love.

Never think of the Bible as just history and literature. The one important question for us always to ask ourselves is this: What spiritual lesson can I learn from this Bible story or experience, to help me think rightly about myself, the universe, and God?

Government

Let us think constructively today on the subject of government. It is important for our welfare and the welfare of the world. In Psalms we read, “O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.” (Ps. 67:4) God, as divine Principle, is the governor of all creation. He is the king of kings and the lord of lords. As we let Him reign supreme and do not interfere with His government, the nations are truly glad and can sing for joy.

The realization that God lovingly governs all is the Christ that brings salvation, peace and harmony to all mankind. In Isaiah we read, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end . . .” (Isa. 9:6-7)

Every demonstration that takes place in Christian Science, every healing — whether it’s individual, national, or international — is the result of the realization that God lovingly governs all. In our textbook we read, “Be firm in your understanding that divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God’s government.” (Science and Health p. 393:16)

Since God as divine Principle governs Himself and the universe, it follows that man, His reflection, expresses true self-government. Mrs. Eddy says, “Reflecting God’s government, man is self-governed.” (ibid. p. 125:16) We feel and experience God’s government as we sincerely pray, as we listen for what God says to His beloved child, and as we respond to His directions. There can never be a substitute for true spiritual self-government under divine inspiration.

But behold the zeal of humanity throughout history in its attempt to find a substitute for self-government. Hear the people of old crying, “Give us a king to govern us.” Hear the same cry today, “Give us a leader, a government, to tell us what to do, and how to regulate all our affairs.” Until men learn the true nature of man self-governed by Truth and Love, they will demand a ruler.

In ancient times, when kings were selected under divine inspiration and as a result of prayer, the nations prospered. You will remember how Samuel selected and anointed David to be king of Israel. When kings, governors, and presidents turn constantly to God for divine inspiration, acknowledging Him as King of kings, they lead their people intelligently and bring peace and prosperity. But when they think they’re governing on their own, and have no need for guidance from above, they bring poverty, war, and unhappiness to their people.

Almost two centuries ago there was born in our country the concept of Democracy, built on the spiritual premise that man, a reflection of God, is capable of self-government, capable of selecting his own rulers. This idea of Democracy is old, but it was in America that it was for the first time thoroughly, extensively, and successfully demonstrated as a progressive form of government that brings freedom to its citizens and enables them to advance civilization at a rapid pace. As the result of our example one nation after another throughout the world began to accept the Democratic form of government.

Democracy will succeed in proportion as it is recognized that the citizens of a country, the voters, are intelligent enough and divinely inspired enough, to select a government that will rule with justice, equity, and wisdom.

During recent years the archaic concept of autocratic dictatorship has again come to the forefront. A single individual, or a group of intellectuals, materialistic in philosophy, and atheistic in approach, have assumed control of nations to do what they think is best for all. These anti-democratic governments are challenging the Democratic ideal of government by the people, for the people, and of the people. Their thesis is that people are not intelligent enough to be trusted with free elections.

Just as Democracy has been tried and tested in America for almost two centuries, and has been found to manifest vitality and strength, just so it is being tested today. Are the voters of America intelligent enough, divinely inspired enough, to select a government that will express wisdom, economy and brotherly love in domestic affairs, and intelligence in dealing with our relationships with other nations. In that election of long ago we read, “And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.” (I Sam. 16:1) When the sons of Jesse were brought in the Lord said, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature . . . for the Lord seeth not as a man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” You will remember how the older sons of Jesse passed by and were rejected. Then they sent for David. “Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to (notice that he wasn’t goodly to look at, but to look to). And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.”

In a Democracy we are all Samuels. It is our duty and privilege to pray, to turn to God for divine inspiration in the anointing and selecting of our government. If we believe in Democracy, in the great truth that man reflecting God’s government is capable of self-government, it is our duty to know this not only about ourselves, but about every man and woman in our nation. Knowing that we are all intelligent enough, and divinely inspired enough, to select and anoint as Samuel did, the best ones to govern. If we do not have that uplifted concept of the electorate, then let’s be honest — we really belong in the other camp.

If we think that our fellow-voters are impelled by selfish interests, thinking only about what they can get out of government, instead of in terms of the best government for all the people, we are then malpracticing upon our fellow-citizens, and contributing to the downfall of Democracy. If we say that some people, because of the color of their skin, are not intelligent enough to vote, we are declaring that Democracy is a failure. If we regard laboring people as automatons governed by the concepts of labor leaders, thinking only of selfish interests, we are seeing Democracy as a failure. If we think that our senior citizens are erroneously influenced by promises of medical help, etc., then we are saying that propaganda governs man, rather than divine Mind. If we say that young people will carelessly vote for radical ideas without thinking, we are not beholding in Science the perfect man who is capable of self-government.

If we love Democracy rather than Totalitarianism, and we want to help Democracy work, we’ll begin knowing that when our citizens go into the privacy of the polling booths they will not be looking on outward appearances, but on the things of the heart. They will select the ones that God directs. We owe it to ourselves, our country, and our love of Democracy, not to malpractice on the electorate by thinking of them as irresponsible.

Many of our forefathers came to America to find political and religious freedom. They fought for these ideals. Sometimes I think we take these freedoms too much for granted, and do not realize how easily they can be taken away from us, unless we love them, appreciate them, and work for them.

The Constitution of the United States provides for freedom of worship, and the separation of Church and State.

Because of our love for Christian Science, and our love for Christianity as practiced by the Master, we owe it to ourselves, our family, our children, and our country, to do nothing that might eventually deprive us or others of political and religious freedom.

When the children of Israel were faithful to their love of God their nation prospered; but when they allowed material considerations to come before their love of God, they soon became weak-kneed, and lost their liberty to become slaves of Babylon.

Sometimes I’ve heard it said that since we’re seeing everyone as God’s perfect child it doesn’t make much difference whom we select as President. That’s like saying that since we’re seeing everyone as God’s perfect child, it doesn’t make too much difference who we select as our husband or wife. It does make a difference. God relates each and every idea harmoniously according to His divine plan and purpose. Samuel did not take the attitude that it didn’t make much difference which of Jesse’s sons he chose to be king — he listened for God’s guidance in making the best choice.

It is not only right for us to pray sincerely that we might make the best choices for officials in our government, but we need to know that divine Mind will inspire all of our fellow-citizens to select their government by divine inspiration. We can supplement such right thinking with intelligent and helpful action. Statistics show that about forty-five million eligible Americans do not vote. This is not a right situation. Americans should be awakened to the glorious privilege of selecting their government.

You know I have always emphasized the importance of maintaining a proper balance between the individual development of every citizen with a true sense of social responsibility to every other citizen. Mrs. Eddy says, that Jesus’ mission was both individual and collective — “He did life’s work aright not only in justice to himself, but in mercy to mortals, to show them how to do theirs, but not to do it for them, nor to relieve them of a single responsibility.” There is a tendency in some theories of government that the state should do everything for its citizens, and completely relieve them of the responsibility to think and work out their own salvations. This theory of government is called the Welfare State and included such features as compulsory health insurance, or socialized medicine. I feel we can do much to strengthen our country by maintaining a better balance between individual development and social responsibility. There are certainly many ways in which government can be helpful to its citizens without destroying individual initiative. In the long run I do not think it will be helpful for the nation or the citizens for the government to take over completely the welfare of all its citizens from the cradle to the grave. Our thoughts and theories about government are very important and have much to do with our own sense of health and well-being. Many forms of disease, such as cancer, tuberculosis, paralysis, and heart trouble, are phases of the belief that mind has lost control of the body — the belief that matter regulates and controls Mind. The healing remedy is the great truth that Spirit or Mind lovingly governs all. To accept the dialectic and the materialistic philosophy of Communists that matter is all and that that Mind or Spirit is a function of matter or brain, means to surrender your true spiritual sense of dominion. When you regard the state as all-important and expect it to work out your salvation, provide for your health, entertainment, welfare, and happiness, you lose the true sense of self-control and government. You become a slave to the State. When people or nations believe that matter governs all, rather than Spirit, they become atheistic and lose a true sense of moral and spiritual balance. Instead of turning to Love for a solution of their problems, they turn to the opposite of Love called hatred; they adopt hatred as their national policy. This is evident in the attitude of Russia and Cuba in their campaign of “Hate America.”

When a government adopts as its national policy the big lie — when they indulge in all sorts of false propaganda, distortion of facts, misrepresentation of people, they of course are trying to build up their success on the opposite of God, Truth, and they are worshipping the devil, called the big lie. The result can only be disaster.

Atheistic Communism which denies the existence of a God who is Principle, worships the very opposite of Principle called chaos. Every effort is put forth to bring confusion, chaos, and disorder into the world in order that they might impose the will of a few over the citizens of the world. Employing a false sense of psychology, they have found that when you treat a dog kindly for a short period, and then treat it cruelly, and do this alternately, before long the dog becomes very confused and frustrated, not knowing what’s going to happen. Many have felt that the leaders of Russia have sought to apply this same false sense of psychology on the free world by their actions during the past several years. There is no law, order, or reason to some of their actions and it is felt that they are trying to confuse and frustrate the world by such policy. Our protection of course is to really worship the God of Principle and refuse to respond to such false stimuli; to love and trust the true God with greater sincerity and devotion. We can know that government is upon the shoulders of the true God who is called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah goes on to say, “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever.” The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

The true God is a zealous God. God is full of divine zeal, and this true zeal is reflected by man, zeal in the support of true Christianity, individual liberty and freedom, that will bring about a manifestation of God’s government of the universe.

There is much apathy that needs to be demonstrated as nothing, in order to further our Cause and the cause of Christianity in the world. There is a tendency on the part of many to want to do things the way they were done fifty years ago. There is a hesitancy about going into all the world and preaching the gospel to every creature. There is almost a condemnation of others who have zeal in sharing this glorious message.

But things are changing and an awakening is coming. It is through the science of Christianity expressed by you individually that the world will blossom into its greatest sense of freedom.

But if the salt has lost it savor not much will be accomplished. If you lose your true zeal and happy enthusiasm for the Science of Christianity, you will not contribute much to the solution of world problems. It’s wonderful to read about Christian Science and discuss it at Association — it’s important that we live it in our daily affairs. But the greatest demand is that we be willing to share the Holy Comforter with others in the infinite number of ways we can do this.

As our Leader says, “Whatever is governed by God is never for an instant deprived of the light and might of intelligence and Life.” Because you are governed by God, you are endowed with this light and might, not only to express infinite health, harmony, and peace yourself, but to share it with others that they too may know that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.