December 24, 2024
Dear People,
This response to our assignment really says it all:
"With the busy Christmas season upon us, one might think we can't possibly do an Association assignment on top of it all! But I'm finding that the assignment isn't really something added to what I'm already doing. Rather, it simply affects how I do what I'm already doing.
These past couple months I focused on, "Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when awake." And why can't mental malpractice harm me? Because there is no mental malpractice! As I kept this in mind, I realized that I needed to prove that there is no malpractice, and prove it first in my ownthoughts. Am I thinking of anyone differently than the one Mind gives me to think? I asked myself often. After all, Mrs. Eddy wrote, "... fear not sin ... but only fear to sin." (Misc. 109)
As I pondered this, there were many opportunities to correct my own thoughts of others, and myself. Sometimes when I found myself complaining in my mind about someone, I would catch it and ask myself, "Did God say that about So-and-so?" Of course not! A few times it even made me laugh out loud. Then the complaining thoughts vanished, along with the mental malpractice. And none of this took extra time. All it did was make my days much lighter! “
Thanks to the student who sent that. It really illustrates the process of this assignment, its challenges, and its value.
We began this assignment to “live the Dailies” more consistently and devotedly back in August. At this point you should be on your third Daily (you were asked to pick any one of the duties our Mrs. Eddy described, faithfully perform it, implementing all you discover about its meaning, day by day for two months and then choosing another, and doing the same thing, sending us a report of what this work has meant and done for you). If you haven’t been doing that there’s not time like the present to devote your energies to this work!
The reason for the assignment is that we need to take more advantage of the benefits that come from living Christian Science as Mary Baker Eddy presents it. “Work, work, work, watch, and pray” is a daily duty, without which, we are not Christian Scientists at all and cannot fully appreciate what the “open fount” of unconditional, universal Love is continually pouring out. When we do apply ourselves daily to the actual work of practicing this Science, what we find is joyful transformation, spiritual regeneration, and healing. That’s a promise!
It is easy at this time of year (once you’ve remembered what this time of year is actually about) to feel that sense of rejoicing in the unspeakable gift that we’ve been given. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder.” A line from “O Holy Night,” may bring a tear of gratitude, the reading of the Christmas story may provoke our wonder and kindle our faith. But as Mrs. Eddy reminds us: "While we adore Jesus, and the heart overflows with gratitude for what he did for mortals, — treading alone his loving pathway up to the throne of glory, in speechless agony exploring the way for us, — yet Jesus spares us not one individual experience, if we follow his commands faithfully; …” (SH 26:1–6 (to ;))
The faithful following of the commands that make us Christians has never been more needed; both for our own spiritual growth and for the salvation of mankind.
I’ll let Mrs. Eddy close this Christmas letter, writing from her post as our Leader, keeping a faithful watch amid adversity we can scarcely imagine, enjoining us to live from the Love that is at the heart of the Discovery of Christian Science:
"Beloved Students: — My heart has many rooms: one of these is sacred to the memory of my students. Into this upper chamber, where all things are pure and of good report, — into this sanctuary of love, — I often retreat, sit silently, and ponder. In this chamber is memory’s wardrobe, where I deposit certain recollections and rare grand collections once in each year. This is my Christmas storehouse. Its goods commemorate, — not so much the Bethlehem babe, as the man of God, the risen Christ, and the adult Jesus. Here I deposit the gifts that my dear students offer at the shrine of Christian Science, and to their lone Leader. Here I talk once a year, — and this is a bit of what I said in 1890: “O glorious Truth! O Mother Love! how has the sense of Thy children grown to behold Thee! and how have many weary wings sprung upward! and how has our Model, Christ, been unveiled to us, and to the age!” ...
... There is a special joy in knowing that one is gaining constantly in the knowledge of Truth and divine Love. Your progress, the past year, has been marked. It satisfies my present hope. Of this we rest assured, that every trial of our faith in God makes us stronger and firmer in understanding and obedience.
Lovingly yours, Mary Baker G. Eddy
(Mis. 159:11; 160:10–17)
With love and appreciation for who you really are and the work you are doing…
Caryl