A unique path to finding solutions
In the face of conflicting perspectives, is it possible to find a path to solutions, even when it may not initially be seen by anyone?
A couple months ago, I attended a Monitor panel titled “Beyond partisanship: Your role in the 2016 elections.” The concept of compromise came up, among many issues, and the event alerted me to the Monitor’s special series on “The Politics of US.” Most important, it prompted me to think and pray more about how solutions can be found that can break through intense partisanship, whether in the United States or elsewhere.
After the panel, the essence of a quote that a friend had shared with me years ago kept knocking at the door of thought. I found it in the book of Job in the Bible. Talking about how God brings to light things that are unseen, it begins: “There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen” (see 28:7-12).
The Bible points to a unique path to finding solutions – a model that’s based on starting with God and acknowledging that His wisdom is far beyond mortals’ limited perspectives. To me, that means that it’s a very different model compared with typical compromise, which is commonly thought of as people giving up points that they’d wanted, often with disappointment, frustration, or rancor.
Exploring Christ Jesus’ healings and teachings, we find that through his understanding of God and spiritual reality, he was always finding solutions in unconventional ways – for example, stilling turbulent storms, healing what were thought to be incurable diseases, passing unharmed through a crowd that wanted to stone him, resolving a very tense scenario by de-escalating and dissolving a potentially fatal situation into one that prompted those involved to examine their own consciences.
Following Jesus’ example and the model of turning wholeheartedly to God requires giving up a sense of willfulness, but the basis for this is very different from typical human compromise. It’s based on acknowledging one divine Principle, God, who is the one divine Mind. This all-intelligent Mind expresses itself in man, which includes each of us as spiritual ideas, God’s harmonious creation (see Genesis 1:26, 27). It’s not about many human minds trying to find a consensus; it’s about acknowledging that the one divine Mind constantly and vibrantly expresses itself in inherently unified ways.
The role of each of us is to humbly yearn, strive, and spiritually listen for divine guidance, and as we do, a previously unseen path becomes clearer. This is a model of reasoning that’s divinely impelled.
Mary Baker Eddy, who founded the Monitor and discovered Christian Science, makes this thought-provoking statement: “I once thought that in unity was human strength; but have grown to know that human strength is weakness,– that unity is divine might, giving to human power, peace” (“Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896,” p. 138).
Bottom line: When we start with God and humbly acknowledge His power, and are willing to set aside limited human perspectives, we open ourselves up to new and unforeseen solutions and highly productive, beneficial ways of working together.
To avail ourselves more of this type of unique solution-finding that impels genuine unity, we can pray to better understand that we really are God’s creation, that we’re spiritual, and that we’re the conscious expression of the one divine Mind. This enables us to let go of willful opinions and humbly, naturally yield to this “all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting” Mind (Mary Baker Eddy, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p. 587).
On this basis, we can perceive others’ real identity as not being stubborn and deeply flawed mortals entrenched in their opinions, but as children of God, naturally receptive to God’s healing messages, which inspire solutions.
Consider the innovative, unique, brilliant answers that can be brought to light as each of us sincerely strives to live by this divinely impelled model. Our thoughts, prayers, and actions will not only bless those we interact with, but will ripple out – reaching beyond headstrong views to Spirit-inspired ideals, opening our hearts to the influence of God’s ever-beneficent government.
