There is always light
Sometimes it can seem that there’s more darkness and chaos than light in the world. But the light of Christ is always here to uplift, heal, and illuminate the path to progress.
The National Youth Poet Laureate who spoke at the 2021 United States presidential inauguration ended her poem with powerful words that quickly lit up social media feeds: “...there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. / If only we’re brave enough to be it” (Amanda Gorman, “The Hill We Climb”).
The need for moral and spiritual light in the world today is clear. Events around the globe argue that there’s more darkness, uncertainty, and chaos than light – from political division to struggling economies to autocratic force threatening democratic ideals. Yet, we can each commit to being a light in the world that shines and helps bring healing to these and other difficulties. Jesus encouraged this when he said: “You are the light of the world.... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14, 16, New King James Version).
This illumination is the identity of each one of us as God’s child, the reflection of God, of divine, infinite being. Jesus showed this to the world through his embodiment of the Christ, the divine influence of God’s goodness. This Christ light comes to humanity moment by moment in the way it can best be discerned and received. Christian Science elucidates this infinite divine presence, and as we understand more of the allness of God, we gain more awareness in our daily lives of this spiritual view of existence.
When someone is healed in Christian Science, they often speak with particular gratitude of the inspiration or spiritual uplift that came with the experience of healing. This spiritual illumination is far more than an enlightened personal experience. It is a clear lifting of any draw to materialism, enabling us to glimpse eternal, spiritual Truth through the touch of Christ in human consciousness.
In a letter to a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, Mary Baker Eddy wrote: “Let your light reflect Light. Have no ambition, affection, nor aim apart from holiness. Forget not for a moment, that God is All-in-all – therefore, that in reality there is but one cause and effect” (“Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896,” pp. 154-155).
To have “no ambition, affection, nor aim apart from holiness” is to recognize and affirm this spiritual light in consciousness. The influence of the Christ begins at once to obliterate any darkness. Materialism would daily argue for lesser methods. But no human method or argument can dissipate the darkness of materiality; only keeping the divine light alive in consciousness through prayer can.
Once, when charged with mediating a conflict in small claims court, I saw this Christ light bring resolution to entrenched division. After numerous techniques and strategies had failed to bring agreement, we took a brief recess. In the quiet moments to myself in the chamber, I turned aside completely from the complex arguments and unbending views in the case. Only the influence of “God with us” would bring agreement and resolution. I prayed to know with all my heart that this divine influence of the Christ-spirit was present and could be felt.
When the mediation resumed, the same line of reasoning was again taken up. But this time, I felt the palpable presence of the spiritual illumination of God’s goodness, and the discussion had a new quality of calmness and hope. Very quickly, one of the parties yielded, turning the tide. Until that moment, there had been stubbornness and a defense of falsehoods. Suddenly, though, this individual offered a solution that had not been acceptable to them for the many hours prior to this.
Christian Science enables us to experience that Christ is always speaking to human thought. Consciousness illumined with the Christ chases away darkness wherever it is found, bringing divine light and healing wherever it is needed.
Adapted from an editorial published in the April 5, 2021, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.