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Shift in thought: from winning, to healing

A Christian Science perspective: On letting God, and not human impulses, guide us.

Often there is a great deal of pressure, particularly surrounding heated political issues, to change one’s mind. Or maybe we want to change others’ minds, and find that they are resistant to do so. Amid those contradictory pressures, it’s helpful to consider the basis for such mental shifts.

Christ Jesus began his healing ministry by calling for a radical shift in thought: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). That word “repent” is translated from the Greek word metanoeo, which means to change one’s mind. Essentially, Jesus was encouraging people to change their basis of thinking from a sense of the world as governed by material laws and human impulses to a more uplifted view, rooted in the understanding that we’re created by God and are meant to live under His government of Truth and Love here and now.

Mary Baker Eddy, Christian reformer and founder of The Christian Science Monitor, earnestly sought to follow Jesus’ example of exchanging human views of things for a more spiritual perspective. She wrote that “there must be a change from human affections, desires, and aims, to the divine standard, ‘Be ye therefore perfect;’... The human affections need to be changed from self to benevolence and love for God and man; changed to having but one God and loving Him supremely, and helping our brother man” (“Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896,” p. 50). This, she promised, would bring healing.

So perhaps the most fundamental question for each of us to ask is this: Is a shift needed in my thought here to bring about healing? By asking that honestly of ourselves, we’re rising above the narrow focus of trying to make sure our view wins and somebody else’s view gets corrected. Rather, we’re proving a Christian willingness to surrender personal views or desires in service of that greater cause of wanting divine Truth and Love, the infinite intelligence of God, to guide us all. In doing so, we can bless not only ourselves but our communities, governments, and neighbors around the world.

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Mark Sappenfield
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Dear Reader,

About a year ago, I happened upon this statement about the Monitor in the Harvard Business Review – under the charming heading of “do things that don’t interest you”:

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