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Honored guest

At times it can seem civility has left the party, so to speak. But each of us is divinely equipped to treasure and express graciousness, thoughtfulness, and patience toward one another, as this poem conveys.

  • By Elizabeth Mata

Christian Science Perspective audio edition
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And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
– Christ Jesus

It seems like civility slipped out in broad
daylight, leaving a shadowy, empty place
at the table – an apparent bald-faced void
seen in some uncaged remark, some
indiscriminate crossing of a line.

Yet this thought gives rise to a quiet
uprising of a winning grace within,
sparking a fresh welcome of civility in
our heart – a welling impetus to truly
esteem another’s feelings, to shield
someone’s dignity through silence, to
stifle the impulse to find fault.

This unceasing impetus – pure spiritual
goodness that flows from God, divine
Love – washes over and away the splitting
disregard of cold opinion with the truth
of our inseparability from Love.

From this spiritual reality of unity,
we – God’s children, lovely reflections
of Love’s own nature – are moved to act
thoughtfully, graciously toward each other.

The table now set within, civility softly
slips back in to break bread with us.

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Dear Reader,

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