Day 147: Mini-treatment - Sin, Sickness, & Death

286:9-288:8

Sin, sickness, and death are comprised in human material belief, and belong not to the divine Mind. There are without a real origin or existence. They have neither Principle nor permanence, but belong, with all that is material and temporal, to the nothingness of error, which simulates the creations of Truth. All creations of Spirit are eternal; but creations of matter must return to dust. Error supposes man to be both mental and material. Divine Science contradicts this postulate and maintains man's spiritual identity.

2010

Day 17: Principle and principles

26:1-27:32

I've been thinking about what principles I live by in my life. They are in direct contrast to someone else's principles in my life. This isn't usually a problem because we are far from each other and the evidence of our choices isn't constantly in the middle of our friendship. But in a few months, I will be asked to bend my principles to meet the situation. Or put them aside altogether.

Comparing this to Jesus's principles, Mary Baker Eddy wrote:

Our Master taught no mere theory, doctrine, or belief. It was the divine Principle of all real being which he taught and practiced. 

I will have to do the same and put self aside.

2010

Day 250: Genesis

501-503:5

Just as a side note, I wonder why the chapter of Creation and the chapter of Genesis or so far apart in this book. It seems they would either be intertwined or consecutive.

I read an article in the Sentinel a while back where the author said he always went back to the idea of creation, Genesis, for his spiritual authority in Christian Science. He did a great job of explaining it – so much so that I agreed and remember it to this day. So this is what I expect I will get out of this chapter, but in my own way.

Today’s section includes just:

Genesis i. 1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

I’ve thought about the beginning/only relationship explained for this passage before. The key phrase that caught me in today’s reading is:

The creative Principle … is God.

This phrase as two meanings to me. One, the obviously intended Principle is God. But the second one focuses more on the word creative. So many times (like right now!), I’m facing a situation that seems hopeless, and impossible to change, and I’m sitting on the sidelines, not even sure what to do. This phrase reminded me that not only is there one solution (G0d), but that solution is creative – my limited scope of possible solutions doesn’t count. God is creative Principle. The right solution will be found. Definitely a Go Team! moment for me.

Day 242: Harmony revisited

479:27-482:12

I must admit there was a lot I marked in this reading. Mary Baker Eddy came back to the discussion of Soul, evil, and material belief. But I want to focus on harmony write now. It seems to ebb and flow in our house which isn’t the truth I want:

Harmonious action proceeds from Spirit, God. Inharmony has no Principle; its action is erroneous and presupposes man to be in matter. Inharmony would make matter the cause as well as the effect of intelligence, or Soul, thus attempting to separate Mind from God.