The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-07-05
Written for -cne Christian
Science Monitor.

science Monitor.
In view of the present chaotic
state of world conditions, the
story of Jacobs experience at
Peniel takes on an added interest.
Faced with the problem of meet
ing his much wronged brother,
and learning from his messengers
that Esau was coming to meet him
with four hundred men, Jacob, we
read in Genesis (32:O, was
greatly afraid and distressed"
All that night he wrestled with
the false material sense of being
and of life as separate from God,
and towards dawn the truth pre-
vailed. He must have caught a
clear glimpse of the divine nature
of man made in the image and
likeness of God. In his meeting
with Esau next day not only had
Jacobs fear been overcome, but
Esau likewise was helped, for he
expressed brotherly love. Then
Jacob exclaimed Genesis S3:1O,
II have seen thy face, as though
I had seen the face of God, and
thou vast pleased with me-"
How much more quickly would
all problems involving enmity.
hate and resentment be overcome
If each one could say of another,
1T have seen thy face, as though
I had seen the face of Cod! AS
we learn to separate error from
our thought of ourselves and
others, and steadfastly refuse to
be used by resentment, envy, self
pity, or fear, seeing our brother as
Gods image and likeness, and re-
fusing reality to- the faults which
may seem to be using ourselves
and him, we shall not only grow
in strength and spiritual under
standing and the power to reflect
divine Love in ever-increasing
measure, but we shall also be
helping to heal much of the hatred
and fear underlying so many of
the problems of to-day.
Many a struggle may ensue be-
fore we realize that self-love is
often behind resentment, fear, and
condemnation. Mary Baker Eddy
says on page 242 of Science and
Health with Key to the. Scrip
lures: There is but one way to
heaven, harmony, and Christ in
divine Science shows us this way.
1t is to know no other reality-to
have no other consciousness of life
than good, God and His ref1ec-
ton, and to rise superior to the
so-called pain and pleasure of the
senses"
Spiritual Sense Needed
1t is impossible for material
sense even to glimpse the glorious
perfection of Gods universe. But
as we steadfastly held to the fact
of perfect spiritual existence, re-
fusing to give place to the ev-
idence of the material senses,
learning to see God refiecte i
everywhere, we cultivate that spir-
itual sense which is unlimited in
its ability to comprehend the
spiritual facts of being.
Mrs. Eddy is definite in her
statement, There is but one way
to heaven, harmony" Christian
Science teaches, Heaven is not a
locality, but a divine state of Mind
in which all the manifestations of
Mind are harmonious and immor-
tai. because sin is not there and
man is found having no righteous
ness of his own, but in possession
of the mind OF the Lord as the
Scripture says" (ibid.. p. 291). 1t
Is impossible to reach heaven, or
this divine state OF Mind" II we
allow resentment, fear, revenge, or
hate place In our thought. Only
as we replace such disrupting
thoughts with divine qualities.
such as loving kindness. generos-
ity, forgiveness, and trust In Loves
ever-presence, can We glimpse the
harmony OF such a state OF con-
seriousness.
Jacob. after his sharp struggle
at Peniel, felt the power and pres
ence OF the spiritual sense Of Life
and Love which transformed his
nature. God, being Mind. Spirit,
Love, infinite and perfect, His ere.
alton, reflection, or expression, In
Guiding individual man. In sinless
and perfect. rejecting the qualities
and attributes OF God. For renec'
ton cannot deviate one icta from
itn original.
Jacob had 10 overeome his sense
or hate and fear, and realize that
his only enemy Was HE false sense
/ Of IN IN ma4er, When his
thought Mne sufficiently pnriheh
bY the light Of Truth and Love, DO
was abs 20 see he bfetheF - =