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We should examine ourselves and learn what is the affection and purpose of the heart, for in this way only can we learn what we honestly are.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p18: 28)
Archive for the ‘Thought’ Category
Searching the Heart Leave a comment
Adoration, Not Aging 1 comment
This article by Deirdre Kindthistle was first published in the March 2026 issue of The Christian Science Journal.
… For most of my life I had not given much consideration to age. But some time ago I realized that thoughts of aging had crept into my consciousness, eating away at my sense of self and my capacity for enjoying many physical activities. Suddenly my joints were stiff. I was tired all the time. My movements had become clumsy. If friends proposed a hike in the mountains, I hesitated to join them, for when I did, I ended up grunting along, trailing behind the others. If a day’s outing was suggested, I weighed it against enjoying my usual twice-daily naps.
To read the full article click here.
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were? 2 comments
Interesting question! When I first came across this question, my initial thought was to try to pick a number – an age that I would like to be – and to think of myself as that age. Then I realised that I didn’t want to be the me that I was back then. I’ve learned too much in meantime. The next question that occurred to me was: What if I didn’t attribute a number to myself at all? How would I feel if I thought of myself as ageless? That’s a very freeing concept!
Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, wrote in her textbook on spiritual healing, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (p246):
Never record ages. Chronological data are no part of the vast forever. Time-tables of birth and death are so many conspiracies against manhood and womanhood. Except for the error of measuring and limiting all that is good and beautiful, man would enjoy more than threescore years and ten and still maintain his vigor, freshness, and promise.
This is interesting to think through and liberating to put into practice. Christian Science helps me to do this.
Christian Science is based on the Bible. It provides important truths that help us live harmonious and productive lives. In the book of Genesis we are told that man is made in the image of God – that we are God’s likeness. God, we are also told, is Spirit – not a material being. This means that man’s true nature is spiritual. Spirit doesn’t age.
Our society gives common consent to ageing. We are conditioned to expect to slow down as the years go by, to be physically less able. How often do we hear people say when they have aches and pains: What can you expect at my age? We can take back this permission by claiming our agelessness – ageless because we are spiritual, the image of God who never ages, never tires, never wears out.
I have proved this often. Once, after not having been on a horse for many decades, I did an eight-hour day of horse riding. I was allocated a large frisky mount that challenged my strength all day. By the end of the ride every muscle in my body screamed and ached, and I could hardly move. As I lay moaning I realised that I had given myself permission to be affected by this. So, I mentally took back permission by reminding myself that as the likeness of God, Spirit, I could say ‘No’ to this situation. I dwelt on this and trusted these thoughts. Within half an hour all pain and tiredness had left. I participated fully in the evening’s activities and remained completely free.
Nowadays when people ask me how old I am, I reply that I try not to have a number. Without a number, I can be the ageless me – free and healthy.
This article, submitted by a member of the Canberra Christian Science community, was first published in the 21 May issue of the Canberra Weekly.
Personal Discipline Leave a comment
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Christian Science commands man to master the propensities, — to hold hatred in abeyance with kindness, to conquer lust with chastity, revenge with charity, and to overcome deceit with honesty. Choke these errors in their early stages, if you would not cherish an army of conspirators against health, happiness, and success.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p405: 5)
Images of Thought Leave a comment
These readings are from the Bible (KJV) and from the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy and are on the topic of Images of Thought.
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A material body only expresses a material and mortal mind. A mortal man possesses this body, and he makes it harmonious or discordant according to the images of thought impressed upon it. You embrace your body in your thought, and you should delineate upon it thoughts of health, not of sickness.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p208:25)
Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p261:4)
Fear Not Leave a comment
These readings are from the Bible (KJV) and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. They are on the topic of: Overcoming Fear.
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I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
(The Bible KJV – Daniel 4: 5)
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
(The Bible KJV – Proverbs 3: 24-26)
The understanding, even in a degree, of the divine All-power destroys fear, and plants the feet in the true path, — the path which leads to the house built without hands “eternal in the heavens.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p454: 5-9)
The Wisdom of Peace 1 comment
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
(The Bible KJV – James: 1: 3; 3: 17,18)
The Real Meaning of Easter – More Precious than Eggs and Bunnies 1 comment
The true meaning of Easter is wondrous! Its message promises blessings to each one of us and to our world. To hide it behind bunnies and eggs, secularism and skepticism, is saddening.
Jesus was crucified by the materialistic world’s hatred of his goodness. The world tried to silence his holy message of love. But how he reacted to such evil intent was an example to us all. He responded with the lovingkindness, calmness and confidence that could only come from the deepest understanding that evil cannot conquer goodness any more than darkness can conquer light.
For three days it seemed like evil had won. Then, when even the disciples had given up hope, Jesus emerged from the tomb alive.
In the resurrection, Jesus proved that there is life beyond what we see, like someone journeying on after they have sailed out of our sight. It’s like writing a number fact on a page, say 2+2=4. If we destroy the page, the truth that the fact expresses is not destroyed. It is eternally true and untouched. Jesus showed us that each one of us has just such an eternally true identity, something that the outward appearance only hints at, something that never dies. What a glorious message.
Jesus also showed that to react with love instead of hate or anger, disempowers evil. Hatred and evil, being a lack of love, can no more stand in the face of divine Love than the darkest night can stand in the presence of the light of the dawn. Not responding to evil with evil stops evil from spreading. That’s why Jesus countered an ‘eye for an eye’ with ‘turn the other cheek’. Is this not a message the world needs to remember and live by? Is this not a message that could bring peace to our world? Is this not the ‘Golden Rule’ – ‘do to others as you would have them do to you’?
The true meaning of Easter is of the utmost importance to our own lives and to the world. If we remember it in our hearts and live it in our lives, then that precious sacrifice made by Jesus will not be lost sight of, but remain as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago.
This article was published in the 26 March issue of the Canberra Weekly.
To Live Love 1 comment
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
(The Bible KJV – Romans 12)
Tolerance Leave a comment
These readings are from the Bible (KJV) and from the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy and are on the topic of Tolerance.
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Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother,
(The Bible KJV – Malachi 2: 10)
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
(The Bible KJV – I John 4: 20)
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