“Divisiveness seems prevalent these days. We see it in national and international relations and in society in general. It impacts communities, churches, and families.
Some would say that this is human nature, a view predicated on a perception that we are driven by fear and motivated by self-interest, in perpetual competition with our neighbor. And God is frequently conceived of as the originator of this imperfect individuality. With the underlying concept of everyone having their own private sense of good, their own mind, and their own interests and goals, conflict becomes inevitable, and spiritual unity, with its associated peace and harmony, eludes us.
Many people find this definition of a selfish human nature, and a divine nature that allows or even causes it, unsatisfying, even unsettling, as though we are condemned to live out a life of inharmony and unending strife. Rejecting such a viewpoint, yearning for a higher ideal of humanity, and seeking a more substantial and lasting sense of brotherhood and sisterhood in unity with God, people often turn to the Bible. There we find men and women faced with the same kinds of challenges that we experience today, and we see concrete, practical examples of how they overcame those challenges through a more spiritual approach to life, an approach we can put into practice ourselves . . .”
The writer, Warren Berckmann, gives a great example of how this can play out. He continues, “When we, like Jesus, wholeheartedly acknowledge our oneness with God, yielding completely to the divine will, nothing can stop us from being a powerful healing influence for unity in our community and beyond.
The ultimate potential of such influence is indicated in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, which says, “With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would be brethren; and with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which constitute divine Science” (pp. 469–470).
We can begin to prove the power of understanding our true, spiritual unity in small ways right where we are, as I found when I was newly appointed to my town’s Zoning Board of Appeals. I was immediately struck by the serious and frequent disagreements among the members over the cases which came to us. Despite a temptation to resign from the board, my prayers instead led me to stay and love my board “neighbors” by holding in my thought the reality of the unity that Jesus spoke of and proved.”
Read how one man’s spiritual understanding and forbearance brought a love to bear that turned these meetings into something quite different from what any of the members had experienced before. Follow the link to read on in the Christian Science Sentinel . . .
Christian Science Society, Sunshine Coast 