XV. LIVING THE LIFE
Mrs. C. L. Baum
Studies in Divine Science
The Colorado College of Divine Science
Denver, Colo., 4th ed., 1924.
“And if you be led of the Spirit you are not under the law.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.”
We have to go back many centuries to find out what it really means to live the life, or a Paul puts it, “live by the Spirit.” He saw and told us in plain simple words how to do easily that which we are striving to demonstrate today. All of the Illumined have appreciated the same law of beautiful living, for truth is eternal and changeless and must be perceived by all alike. The perfect inherencies of the Universal Source are ready to flow through us into outward expression, and it is our place to make the channel so clear that the glory of Omnipresence may be able to shine without obstruction. We who claim to have caught a glimpse of the indwelling One may, by cultivating the fruits of the Spirit, “make straight the pathway of the Lord.” Joy and tenderness, love and peace without a ripple of emotion, serenity that nothing can disturb – these will combine to make the inner and outer as one.
Having become conscious of our Divine nature, we are now walking the path which leads eventually to the fullness of that health, peace and satisfaction which we know has been given us, even though it may not yet be manifested. We are bringing our thought under control, and purifying our words and actions. We are no longer under any law, but are one with the spiritual law of unfoldment from the unlimited within. From now on we do not care to obtain external possessions, but our aspiration is to attain fuller consciousness of the Infinite Intelligence, Life and Love that is our Source.
As we begin consciously to desire this spiritual unfoldment, we find that our attitude toward the whole of life has undergone a change. It is this changed attitude that shows most clearly our growth. We no longer find fault with or condemn the weather; neither are we subject to it, nor has it any power to influence our serenity. Rather do we exclaim with Ruskin, “There is no bad weather, but all kinds of good weather,” rejoicing in the truth that all weather ministers to our good as we feel our unity with it.
Another change we discern in our attitude is that we have no fear regarding our food. We see that the underlying Substance of all things is One, and know that our food, being one Substance with our body, has no power to hurt us or cause us pain. Spirit does not war upon Spirit, nor does food war upon the body. Knowledge of the foundation principle of unity releases us from the dualistic belief of separation, and we and our daily bread are at peace.
In the new life we find that criticism of neighbor and friend has passed away forever, for we see all as the children of the one Father, entitled to our never-failing consideration and love. The thought of co-operation helps us here, and as we reach up a hand to be helped by someone who has climbed higher in the path of attainment, we also reach the other hand down to the one just below who needs our help; and as we are lifted up, so do we lift others up to us.
Worry, doubt and fear become unknown to us, for we trust the Divine action everywhere. Judging no longer by appearances, we see the inherent goodness of every manifestation of life. We do not hate nor despise anyone or anything, but do our part in our place to the best of our ability. We cease to think and talk of our bodies and their sensations, for we live constantly in the full realization of the allness of the Good. In this state, the truth of the body is made manifest to us and we rejoice in its harmony and peace.
As we find God everywhere, the whole universe revealing His Presence, the darkness of ignorance is replaced by the light of Divine Wisdom; and walking in that light, we see the truth of all things, people and places. The truth so clarifies our vision that we finally and wholly disconnect our thought from the superstitions of the past, and maintain our connection with the Divine Mind. Thus we think with the Father and are guided into fuller enlightenment, so that every common day is filled with delight, and the inner peace is established in our consciousness forever.
JOY COMMANDMENTS.
Thou shalt rejoice in every kind of weather.
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”
Thou shalt bless thy food and thy drink.
“The pure in heart shall see God” in all things.
Thou shalt redeem thy body by knowing its inherent perfection.
“If thine eye be single to truth, thy whole body shall be full of light.”
Thou shalt commend thy neighbor and praise his goodness.
“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
Thou shalt trust thyself and thy friends to the ever present Divine Love.
“For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth.”
Thou shalt love every living thing.
“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good.”
Thou shalt greet each morning with a smile.
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Thou shalt be filled with the strength and power of the Lord.
“Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart.”
Thou shalt joyfully go wherever duty calls.
“The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in.”
Thou shalt lie down to sleep in abiding peace.
“He that keepeth thee will not slumber.”
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So every spirit, as it is most pure,
And hath in it the more of Heavenly light,
So, it, the fairer body doth procure
To habit in, and it more fairly dight
With cheerful grace and amiable sight.
For, of the soul, the body form doth take,
For soul is form and doth the body make.
– Spenser.
Next: GUIDANCE FOR REALIZATION
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