You can defend yourself against hatred

Have you ever felt like Aunt Sally? If you've attended an English fair, you may have come across her -- an effigy of a woman smoking a pipe, set up for passersby to throw things at.

Some people just seem perpetually to be in Aunt Sally's position -- a target for hatred or derision. Perhaps they belong to a minority social group, or are taking an unpopular stand on an issue. Can we ever feel genuine protection from mockery and scorn?

Paul, who had his share of problems while working to establish the infant Christian Church, had this to say: "Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." n1

n1 Ephesians 6:13

The Christian Science textbook by Mary Baker Eddy, n2 in a paragraph titled "The armor of divinity," states: "At all times and under all circumstances, overcome evil with good. Know thyself, and God will supply the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over evil. Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you." n3

n2 Mrs. Eddy is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science;

n3 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,m p. 571

I had occasion to prove that I could be protected from hatred when I was elected to an office in an organization I belong to. Immediately afterward, I received an anonymous letter that attacked my qualifications to fill such a position. It suggested I resign.

As a student of Christian Science, I realized that one way to meet the problem was to be "clad in the panoply of Love." And to see that my assailant was actually, like myself, an idea of God, of divine Love, and therefore completely incapable of hatred. I decided I had to obey the command of Christ Jesus, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." n4

n4 Matthew 5:44

Here were four things I could definitely do: love, bless, do good, and pray. This passage gave mem the initiative. I didn't have to reactm with resentment or fear but was obligated to actm with a fourfold thrust of divine Love, an impregnable armor.

As I did this I began to understand why I was not a target of any malicious intent. In reality I was not a mortal target at all but a spiritual expression of God, constituted of divine attributes, including impenetrable substance and peace. A spiritual idea can never be toppled, manipulated, or pushed off base, for no power exist but God, infinite good.

This reasoning helped me to see that evil couldn't take up residence in someone else and throw its hatred toward me; that in the reality of infinite good there was no place for an attacker or a victim. I had refused to be an Aunt Sally!

I went on to fill my new assignment with joy and satisfaction. I received no more letters. In fact, this individual came up to me sometime later and congratulated me on doing a "magnificent" job.

Mrs. Eddy writes with spiritual assurance, "Continuing our definition of man,m let us remember that harmonious and immortal man has existed forever, and is always beyond and above the immortal illusion of any life, substance, and intelligence as existent in matter." n5

n5 Science and Health,m p. 302

We are permanent dwellers in a univers of Love's creating. No one is an Aunt Sally! DAILY BIBLE VERSE The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom. II timothy 4:18