The challenges the world faces can feel overwhelming, far from joyful. It may even feel disrespectful to express joy in the face of the harshest news. Yet how quickly that can change, for instance, when a gleeful child bounces in. Then joy spills out. Suddenly we are in a new mental atmosphere. Anguish recedes. What causes this shift in consciousness, even when challenges still loom?
From my faith tradition, I understand this capacity for the brightening of one's mental environment is inherent in everyone as a child of God. As a Hebrew Prophet wrote, "The Lord, your God...will rejoice over you with gladness." From my study of Christian Science, I'm learning that we can experience more of this God-given joy when we look beyond what our physical senses report and lean into a faith that leads to spiritual understanding or spiritual sense — the ability to perceive divine things that the physical senses cannot cognize.
One early Christian noted, "we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
I've found this passage a helpful reminder to turn consistently to the Divine, the source of unconditional good available to all. As I continue to practice this in my life, this vivid mental atmosphere of joy, grace, and peace, is a ready answer to the challenges I face.
I needed to lean into that source of all good once when I found myself consumed with an intense sense of hurt and injustice, and felt deprived of equal opportunity.
After steaming for a while, I remembered I could be faithful to this promise to “see” and perceive the situation differently — to exercise spiritual sense. I’d experienced it before. It was possible, I knew. So, I clung to the promise that I could engage the situation with more of God’s grace and His assurance of peace, and less self-will. Gradually, a change occurred. Whereas human help had failed, now I could feel a tangible calm presence with me, and then a soft, gentle divine touch right where the hurt had smarted most. It was a new atmosphere of “peace and joy and power” to use the words of Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Christian Science church.
My sense of injustice was concretely addressed in those moments, and in some later follow-up action. I rejoiced. Rediscovery of the divine presence empowered me to regain control of myself, to exercise deeper spiritual strength and sensitivity, uplifting my experience.
When Christian Scientists gathered earlier this summer for their annual meeting, the theme was “Joy in the Living Church.” The invitation to the meeting included this reminder which continues to resonate: “The psalmist sang, ‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God’ (Psalms 42:11). Hoping and trusting in God involves much more than putting on a brave face and wishing for something better. The kind of hope this Bible passage conveys is rooted in an understanding of the omnipotence and ever-presence of God, infinite good. This understanding gives us strength to stand up to and overcome evil individually and collectively.”
Addressing the turmoil within ourselves goes a long way to finding healing solutions for all. And when we remember to rely on the power of God, we find that there can be real joy in the effort.
Beth Gibson is the Christian Science Committee on Publication for British Columbia, representing Christian Science throughout the province. She is a member of Victoria’s First Church of Christ, Scientist, as well as a member of the worldwide church, affectionately referred to as The Mother Church.
You can read more articles on our interfaith blog Spiritually Speaking, at https://www.timescolonist.com/blogs/spiritually-speaking
*This article was published in the print edition of the Times Colonist on Saturday, July 27th 2024
