The Garden Path

In need of some inspiration, I borrowed a 1967 bound volume of the Christian Science Sentinel from our Reading Room library. The articles are inspiring, informative and are written in a different style to present day Sentinel articles. I have enjoyed reading it. But not all the articles have made pleasant reading. One such article “cut to the bone” as it uncovered error in my thinking.

“The Garden Path” by Thomas Douglas Sutton p.896 has the following paragraph:-

“Christian Science teaches that the story of Adam and Eve is a false account of creation. The man from the dust of the ground is a mistaken concept of the real, spiritual man made in the image and likeness of God. Mrs Eddy writes of Adam and Eve's downfall “ Knowledge and pleasure, evolved through material sense, produced the immediate fruits of fear and shame”. Human misery in such forms as lack,disease and loneliness results from individual acceptance of the erroneous concept of man as an incomplete material being requiring satisfaction of a sensual self.”

During the Christmas holiday season, feeling lonely, I had spent time walking around town seeking opportunities to chat up members of the opposite sex. Probably looking for a romantic moment.  The motivation was entirely selfish. I knew this type of approach was unwise but I could not see why. The article helped me see the error of my motivation.

I am glad of this purification of thought and for the articles published by the Christian Science Publishing Society.