People drawn to Divine Science often want to take classes to grow in spiritual understanding. If the spiritual principles learned in the class setting stay in the intellect and are not applied to situations in our daily lives, there is little movement in our perception of life. Practicing new understanding brings change.
One example of a higher viewpoint that came after applying a spiritual reaction is from a Truth student who spent time with a Muslim mother and three children recently relocated to her neighborhood from Syria. After several months of friendly visits, a routine phone call was abruptly cut short by the mother and no further contact was possible.
The Truth student noticed her immediate reaction was resistance, blame for the husband who may have felt he was losing control and forbade his wife to continue this friendship, and the duality of I’m right and you’re wrong.
The Truth student resolved to meet this situation from spiritual principles she had been studying. She remembered Nona Brooks’ definition of love as outstreaming good will. She’s stopped turning the outer details over in her mind and replaced these speculative thoughts by sending outstreaming good will to all members of that family. She did not catalog and analyze details of the situation; instead, she knew God is all and all is well. She felt the good cheer that Jesus Christ referred to was within and not dependent on outer circumstances. She praised God and thanked God and turned the situation over to God. And God filled her heart with peace.
In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16: 33
Dear God, we are grateful for the gift of your understanding.
Provided by Rev. Mary Emma Dryden ~ September 2017
