wonderful things are happening

8/9/2019 Wonderful Things Are Happening

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Wonderful Things Are Happening.

by Dorothy Rieke, 1969.

One night folloing a Wednesday e!ening "eeting, a friend of "ine "ade astate"ent to a friend of hers. #he said ith great positi!eness and $on!i$tion

in her !oi$e, %Don&t be $on$erned about anything ' onderful things are taking

pla$e.( #he as so e"phati$ in "aking her state"ent that another lady o!erheard

it. On the ay ho"e she started to think about this positi!e, )oyous approa$h.

#he reali*ed that this positi!e, )oyous attitude had $ertainly not been the

attitude that she had been entertaining. #he had been !ery "u$h $on$erned for

"any reasons + an in$urable disease hi$h had been groing steadily orse, a

business hi$h had failed and her son ho as in a danger *one in orea. #he

asked herself %Ho $an - say - a" not $on$erned( The anser $a"e )ust as if it

ere /od speaking to her. %0e$ause /od is all there is, there is absolutely

nothing to be $on$erned about.( Then she asked herself, %Ho $an - re)oi$e andsay that onderful things are taking pla$e( The anser $a"e, %0e$ause /od is

all there is, and He is epressing Hi"self, and the results ha!e to be onderful.(

That night on the ay ho"e she deter"ined that no "atter hat $a"e up

in her body, or in her affairs, she as going to refuse to be $on$erned. And

instead, she as going to re)oi$e $onsistently that onderful things ere taking

pla$e. #he reali*ed that the basis for su$h a positi!e, )oyous approa$h as

s$ientifi$ be$ause she as truly $on!in$ed that /od is All, and that /od is

really epressing Hi"self.

#he stood steadfast in her pra$ti$e of this s$ientifi$, positi!e, )oyous

attitude. As a result she as !ery 2ui$kly healed and her business as restored

to a pla$e far beyond hat it had e!er been before.

This lady&s daughter+in+la as ill. The daughter+in+la $a"e to the "other+in+

la for help. #he, too, had been $on$erned about "any things. #he had been

$on$erned about her on illness, proble"s in the s$hool roo" here she as

a tea$her. And she had been $on$erned about the young "an in the danger *one

be$ause he as her husband. The "other+in+la shared this positi!e, )oyous

approa$h ith her daughter+in+la, and told her of the onderful things that had

$o"e to pass be$ause she had steadfastly put this attitude to ork. The

daughter+in+la de$ided that she, too, regardless of hat $a"e up in her body or

in her affairs, ould $onsistently and steadfastly refuse to be $on$erned. 0utinstead, ould re)oi$e that onderful things ere happening. As a result she as

healed. Her husband as brought ho"e to a spot so $lose he didn&t e!en see" to

be in the Ar"y any"ore. 3!erything orked out har"oniously in her tea$hing.

0ut there&s one in$ident - "ust share ith you. One day a little girl $a"e to

her tea$her and said, %- ha!e a little friend ho ants to take her life. Her father

and "other don&t lo!e ea$h other any"ore. They don&t lo!e her. Ho"e is aful and

she really ants to $o""it sui$ide. What $an - say to her(

The tea$her, of $ourse, as )ust full of this positi!e, )oyous ay of thinking,

so she shared it ith the little girl in ter"s that she $ould understand. #he said, %4ou

tell your little friend that no "atter ho bad things see" to be at ho"e, )ust be$ause

/od lo!es her, He ill "ake onderful things take pla$e. Hoe!er, she "ust kno


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this, have faith in it and rejoice in it. In about a weeks time the little girl returned to the

teacher and she said, I have a confession to make. I was the little girl that wanted to

$o""it sui$ide. 0ut - ent ho"e and - told "y father and "other hat you told "e,

and they lo!e ea$h other no, and they lo!e "e, and ho"e is onderful, and - ouldn&t

take "y life for anything.(

#o the s$hool tea$her told the "other+in+la, and in turn she ga!e a testi"ony,and "y friend heard ho this positi!e, )oyous state"ent that she had shared had

rea$hed out and blessed si indi!iduals, be$ause they had all put it to ork.

There are to !ery i"portant $on$lusions hi$h - ha!e dran fro" this testi"ony.

5irst, it didn&t "ake any differen$e hether the indi!idual as an old+ti"e

hristian #$ientist ho had been studying for years and had be$o"e dis$ouraged,

or one ho as so brand ne in hristian #$ien$e she didn&t e!en kno she as a

#$ientist yet, the positi!e, )oyous attitude healed.

#e$ondly, it didn&t "ake any differen$e hether the proble" as a business

proble", an in$urable disease, lo$ation in a danger *one, an illness, proble"s $onne$ted

ith the s$hool roo", or a proble" of hu"an relationships + that sa"e positi!e, )oyousattitude healed.

And the healing is still going on. - ha!e shared this testi"ony all o!er the

7nited #tates, and, in fa$t, in any $ountry here - $ould gi!e testi"onies. And

reports are still $o"ing ba$k to "e fro" all o!er the orld. %-, too, a"

standing steadfast in re)oi$ing that there is absolutely nothing to be $on$erned

about, and that onderful things are taking pla$e.( And then they tell "e about

healings they ha!e eperien$ed, as a result of their sharing this positi!e, )oyous

approa$h.

The last ti"e "y husband le$tured throughout /er"any and #it*erland, in their

/er"an language, e spent a "onth in 8uni$h in preparation for the /er"an

le$ture. - prayed that /od ould use "e in a ay hereby - $ould truly bless.

Well, He $ertainly did /od told "e to ha!e this testi"ony translated into

/er"an so that - $ould share it on Wednesday nights. A onderful hristian

#$ientist translated it for "e, and $oa$hed "e so that - $ould read it properly.

3!ery Wednesday night - ould read "y testi"ony in /er"an. At the $lose of ea$h

"eeting the /er"an people ould rush up to "e to thank "e for that onderful

testi"ony, and of $ourse, they ould speak /er"an !ery rapidly, and - didn&t

kno hat they ere saying. :e!er for an instant ould they ha!e thought anyone

ho $ould read su$h beautiful /er"an so ell ouldn&t be able to understandthe". Then - ould tell the" in /er"an that - spoke !ery little /er"an, but that

- spoke a little. 5ro" that point on e ould get along fa"ously. And you kno,

-&" still re$ei!ing thrilling reports fro" /er"any about the fa$t that onderful

things are taking pla$e be$ause indi!iduals refuse to be $on$erned.

One of the "ost thrilling eperien$es - had as in a little ton in Wet*ikon in

#it*erland. He as to gi!e his last le$ture in /er"an on a #unday afternoon.

;eople $a"e not only fro" that part of #it*erland, but "any $a"e don fro"

/er"any. The le$ture as to be held in the ballroo" of the hotel. 0ut please

don&t pi$ture the ballroo", as you ould find it in a hotel in Detroit + this

building as o!er


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before all the people ere in the ballroo", the oner of the hotel as ringing

his hands. He said, %We $an&t let any "ore people in. The building is too old,

it ill $ollapse.( 8y husband sol!ed the proble" by starting the le$ture early

and by gi!ing a se$ond le$ture. 0e$ause these people had ne!er had su$h an

eperien$e and did not kno hat to do about it - found "yself dire$ting the

situation. And - ended up outside the building during the first le$ture. As -stood re)oi$ing about so "any people $o"ing to the le$ture, a lady approa$hed

"e. #he said they had $o"e a great distan$e. The rest of the fa"ily, all e$ept

her "other, ere in hearing the first le$ture. The "other as unable to alk.

They had brought her knoing that she ould not be able to hear the le$ture, but

they thought 8r. Rieke "ight be able to speak ith her. Hoe!er, she said that

by the ti"e the se$ond le$ture as o!er it ould be far too late for the" to

start ho"e. Thus, she kne that her "other ould not be able to talk ith hi",

but ould - $o"e and talk to her. 0elie!e it or not, - talked ith that lady for

tenty "inutes in /er"an. - said things in /er"an - had ne!er drea"ed - ould be

able to say. - had the $opy of the testi"ony in "y purse, hi$h - had been

reading at the ser!i$es. - ga!e it to her. - told her that if she ould doea$tly hat the people in this testi"ony did, that she too ould be healed. 4ou

$an i"agine the )oy hi$h as "ine hen she returned the testi"ony along ith a

letter telling "e that she had been $o"pletely healed.

The state"ent, %-&" not $on$erned about anything + onderful things are taking

pla$e,( is not a for"ula, nor is it a ;ollyanna attitude on seeing only the good

in spite of the bad. The statement, I am not concerned about anything is based

upon the most important of all metaphysical laws, the law that od is !ll. It is

because of the allness of od that there is absolutely nothing to be concerned

about.>et&s think about the allness of /od for a fe "inutes. >isten to so"e of

the state"ents hi$h /od hi"self "akes, as found in -saiah, %- a" /od and there

is none else, - a" /od, and there is none like "e.( %- a" the first, and - a"

the last and beside "e there is no /od.( 8rs. 3ddy attributes great i"portan$e

to the la of "etaphysi$s, that /od is All. -n 7nity of /ood, page ?, she speaks

of it as a self+pro!ed proposition and an in$ontestable point in hristian #$ien$e.

On page


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or disease of any des$ription. There is just od. There cannot be both od and

hatred, fear, $riti$is", resent"ent, rebellion, orry, or sin of any kind + there

is )ust /od. There cannot be both od and even a belief in error. It is because

this law rebukes even a claim or a belief contrary to ods allness% there is no

claim or belief, no dream, no illusion, & there is just od.

Ho does the la of /od&s allness rebuke e!en a $lai" or a belief of another

la -t is be$ause unfatho"able, infinite, eternal, di!ine 8ind is the only

8ind, and there is no other "ind, no "ortal "ind, to entertain e!en a $lai" or a

belief of so"ething opposed to /od. There is )ust /od, di!ine 8ind. Ho

onderful it is that no "atter hat the error, e understand it to be $o"pletely

noneistent, utterly i"possible, be$ause of the e!er presen$e of the allness of

/od. #o, when we say, Im not concerned about anything, we actually mean that

because of the allness of od there is absolutely nothing to be concerned about.

-t as be$ause of the allness of /od, that it as i"possible for a "an to be in

a danger *one, i"possible for there to be proble"s in a s$hool roo", i"possible

for a husband and ife not to lo!e ea$h other, i"possible for a business $areerto be ruined, and i"possible for a little girl to take her life.

A young lady ho as orking in an offi$e alone, suddenly found herself in the

throes of se!ere pain, and reali*ed that she had lost her poer of spee$h, and

that she as losing $ons$iousness. All she $ould think of as /od, and she

repeated the ord "entally as she lost $ons$iousness. #o"e ti"e later as she

started to regain $ons$iousness, she as again aare only of /od. 5inally, she

$ould say the ord, but nothing else $a"e so she repeated the ord, %/od,( until

she $ould say, %/od is(. #he found her spee$h and thought be$o"ing $learer and

repeated, %/od is,( until she $ould say, %/od is All.( #he as so grateful and

so )oyous in being able to reali*e, a$knoledge, and !oi$e the allness of /od,

that shortly she found herself "anifesting only perfe$tion. Her healing as

$o"plete and per"anent.

Oh, isn&t it onderful that )ust be$ause of the allness of /od e don&t ha!e to

be $on$erned about anything 0y the ay + hat are you $on$erned about 4our

health, your fa"ily, your $hur$h, your supply, the state of the nation, orld

affairs - a" asking all of you to repeat ith "e, %- a" not $on$erned about

anything. 0e$ause /od is All, there is nothing to be $on$erned about.(

/od 3pressing Hi"self

The se$ond basi$ "etaphysi$al la underlying our positi!e, )oyous state"ent is

that /od is epressing Hi"self. -t is thrilling to reali*e that /od, ho is

All+in+all, is a di!inely a$ti!e /od. Eust $onte"plating /od as >ife, e $an see

so readily that there is ne!er any interruption to di!inely a$ti!e being.

onte"plating /od as 8ind, e see that there $ould ne!er be su$h a thing

as a di!ine 8ind hi$h is not thinking, knoing, understanding, $o"prehending and

epressing. onte"plating /od as >o!e + hy it is i"possible to think of /od as

>o!e and not reali*e that He is e!er a$ti!ely lo!ing His perfe$t $reation. Eust

listen to the a$ti!ity of /od as epressed by )ust one ;sal" FG1=I+(He $o!erest

Hi"self ith light, he stret$hest out the hea!ens, he layeth the bea"s of his$ha"bers, he "aketh the $louds his $hariot, he alketh upon the ings of the


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ind. He laid the foundations of the earth, he sendeth the springs into the

!alleys, he gi!eth drink to e!ery beast, he atereth the hills, he $auseth the

grass to gro. He planted, he appointed the "oon, he openest his hand, he

looketh upon the earth, he tou$hes the hills.( :o onder Da!id e$lai"ed, %O

>ord, ho "anifold are thy orks -n isdo" hast thou "ade the" allJ the earth

is full of thy ri$hes(. F;sal" 1=@BI!nd so it is because we have a divinelyactive od that wonderful things are happening. It is because our perfect,

omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient od is e'pressing all (is )ualities in

perfect balance, that wonderful things are taking place. *ow this one and only

divinely active od does all the doing in the universe. *ot only does (e do all

the creating, but all the knowing, all the understanding, all the e'pressing. (e

does all the relating, the associating, the environing.

The definition of 8ind in the /lossary of #$ien$e and Health F91, line 19I reads,

%Deity, hi$h outlines but is not outlined.( /od doing all the planning, all the outlining, is a

!ery i"portant basi$ truth hi$h e "ust a$$ept in our epe$tation of onderful

things happening. - doubt if there is any one state"ent - ha!e "ade "ore oftenthan this one + ods plan for man is in operation, and there is no other power

or presence that can interfere with it.- ish to dis$uss this state"ent ith

you this "orning in relation to onderful things taking pla$e. There isn&t a one

of us ho at so"e ti"e during a year, doesn&t need to let that glorious truth

operate in his eperien$e + to find the right )ob, sele$t the right apart"ent, buy

the right $ar, $hoose the right uni!ersity, )oin the right $hur$h, a$$ept the

right $hur$h assign"ents, take the right !a$ation, "arry the right person. -n

any one of these de$isions, e "ust re)oi$e $onsistently at /od&s plan for us is

in operation.

To be absolutely sure that it is /od ho is doing the outlining, and not "e,

"yself, there are four basi$ truths - lo!e to $onte"plate, $o"prehend, and re)oi$e in. These

truths ere unfolded to "e at a ti"e hen - thought - had a proble" that as beyond

solution. - $ouldn&t see ho e!en /od $ould ha!e an anser.

-t as at that ti"e that - took a little boy and his "other sailing. -t as the three+year

old $hild&s first eperien$e in a sailboat. He as i"pressed by the epanse of ater, and he

as besieging his "other ith 2uestions, %-s the ater o!er "y head -s it o!er brother&s

head O!er your head( -t as getting a little deeper all the ti"e. %-s it o!er daddy&s head(

%4es, it is o!er daddy&s head,( the "other replied, The little fello thought for a "o"ent,

and then ith a look of absolute $onfiden$e, he announ$ed, %0ut it isn&t o!er /od&s head.(

That night hen - had an opportunity to be alone, - ent out of doors, sat under the stars and

prayed. - kne that hat the little boy had said as a "essage fro" /od for "e that "yproble" asn&t o!er /od&s head. - turned holeheartedly to "y Hea!enly 5ather. - let

di!ine 8ind talk, and - listened. -t as then that these four pre$ious, but poerful points,

ere re!ealed to "e.

5-R#T. F#CH 6=, line B=I %#oul has infinite resour$es ith hi$h to bless "ankind.(

Don&t e!er start orking on a proble" ith a li"ited sense of things, su$h as

%Eobs are fe and far beteen. There are )ust no eligible "en "y age ho are

hristian #$ientists.( Or, %There is only one s$hool for "e, but - don&t kno

hi$h one.( 0egin ith the infinitude of /od&s goodness. Re"e"ber that His

resour$es are infinite. The possibilities for in$o"e are beyond "easure. The

possibilities of e"ploy"ent are infinite. Opportunities to ser!e are infinite.0e$ause all the resour$es of /od do not lie idle, He uses His infinite resour$es


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to bless you. :o "atter hat your need "ight be, it is tre"endously thrilling to

start out ith the reali*ation of the infinite possibilities hereby your

Hea!enly 5ather "ight bless you. Of $ourse, be$ause the resour$es are /od&s.

they "ust all be ne$essarily beautiful, har"onious, onderful, good, and perfe$t

in e!ery respe$t. Re)oi$e that you are ri$h. 4ou ha!e inherited the kingdo". -n

>uke e read, %#on, thou art e!er ith "e, and all that - ha!e is thine.(

#3O:D. Di!ine 8ind, the all+knoing intelligen$e, knos hi$h resour$es best

"eet the needs of e!ery indi!idual. Eesus tells us, %4our Hea!enly 5ather

knoeth that ye ha!e need of all these things.( -sn&t it onderful that e $an

trust /od and kno that His planning is far beyond anything that e $ould

hu"anly plan /od, Di!ine 8ind, e"ploys His resour$es for "an in perfe$t isdo",

and, therefore, for one ho understands this, no a!enue is blo$ked, no right

desire unsatisfied, no need unpro!ided. -t is at this point of the de"onstration

here e "ust stand steadfast in refusing to outline. We "ust rely $o"pletely

upon the de$isions of our Hea!enly 5ather as to hat is best for us. We "ust not

e!en be guilty of saying, %Hea!enly 5ather, Thy ill be done but - )ust kind ofhope it ill ork out this ay.( :o, e "ust pray ithout any reser!ation, %:ot

"y ill, but Thine, be done.( #o"eti"es in order to be absolutely $ertain that -

a" letting /od do all the planning, - ill pray this ay, %/od, - don&t $are

hether - dig gold in Alaska or lasso $attle in Argentina, s$rub floors in a

0ene!olent Asso$iation, or take in ashing in Ti"buktu, All - ask 5ather, is

that your plan for "e be in operation.( And then - re)oi$e that it is /od&s

plan, and /od&s plan only, that is in operation and absolutely nothing $an

interfere ith it. Oh, ith hat $o"plete assuran$e, freedo", and $onfiden$e,

$an e fa$e the future knoing that /od is $aring for us in e!ery eperien$e.

TH-RD. %>o!e inspires, illu"ines, designates, and leads the ay.( F#CH , line 1I

-sn&t this a onderful thought #o often you ill hear an indi!idual say, %0ut

ho a" - to kno hat /od&s plan is .for "e( Or. %Ho a" - to kno hat

footsteps to take( Or, %/od "ay kno but - $ertainly don&t.( This onderful

state"ent guarantees that "an $annot help but kno the right steps to take and

the right de$isions to "ake.

-t is not a $ase of /od knoing all the ansers, and "an being in the dark.

/od is fore!er pouring His thoughts and )udg"ents into our aiting $ons$iousness,

thus inspiring us ith the right ideas. -t is the great >ight of Truth hi$h

illu"ines our pathay so $o"pletely that e $annot help but see the right turn

to take, or the right de$ision to "ake. 8oreo!er, di!ine 8ind literally pointsout to us hi$h is the best of all His infinite opportunities. And hat&s "ore,

your hea!enly 5ather takes you by the hand and leads the ay. Thus, anyone

re)oi$ing that, %>o!e inspires, illu"ines, designates, and leads the ay,( )ust

$an&t es$ape doing the thing that is right for hi" to do. #o, ho do e kno

hat is /od&s ill and hat is not That is the beauty of >o!e&s inspiration,

illu"ination, and designation. When /od&s purpose is re!ealed, the ay is so

$lear, so $ertain, that not only are e sure of it, but e are led, i"pelled,

$o"pelled to take it.

-t is at this point in our de"onstration here e "ust refuse to be$o"e

dis$ouraged if e see no signs or ha!e had no leadings. 3!en though e ha!en&t

had any indi$ation that things are happening, yet e kno that they are. Don&tforget that our /od is a di!inely a$ti!e /od, e!er epressing Hi"self.


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Therefore, no and alays onderful things are happening. And regardless of

hether e see any e!iden$e of it or not, let us $ontinue in our re)oi$ing that

right no /od&s plan is in operation. Right no onderful things are taking

pla$e. Why, right no /od $an be opening the ay for that indi!idual in

alifornia to $o"e to your ho"e and offer to buy that property you ant to sell.

Why, right at this instant /od "ay be orking things out in :e 4ork ityhereby an organi*ation ill find it possible to ask you to fill a position that

is far beyond anything you ha!e e!er drea"ed of. Dis$ourage"ent $loses the door

on illu"ination, inspiration, and designation. 0ut $ourage and $onfiden$e that

onderful things are happening lea!e all the doors ide open for onderful

things to happen and for us to be aare of /od&s guidan$e.

A young "an had orked se!eral eeks along these lines in order to find

)ust the right )ob. :othing had de!eloped that as in keeping ith his talents and

abilities. 0ut you kno, he as so sure, so $ertain, so positi!e /od&s plan as in

operation, and that onderful things ere happening, that he as not the least bit

unhappy, or disturbed, or orried, or fearful. One day he as i"pelled to go to a nearby

ton and apply for a position ith an organi*ation that he hadn&t e!en thoughtof before. Well, they had a position for hi", and it as far "ore onderful than

anything he had drea"ed of. After they had guaranteed hi" the position they said

to hi", %Ho did you happen to $o"e today -f you had $o"e yesterday, the

position ouldn&t ha!e been open yet. -f you had $o"e to"orro, e ould ha!e

already filled it ith one of our e"ployees. Ho did you happen to $o"e today(

The young "an&s reply as, %Only /od knos. All - kno as that - as i"pelled

to $o"e.( Hoe!er, this young "an told "e later that he reali*ed that it as

be$ause he had stood steadfast in his )oy and his $ertainty that onderful

things ere happening, that he as able to hear the !oi$e of /od, able to feel

the dire$ti!e i"pulse. He said that if he had be$o"e orried or dis$ouraged, or

unhappy, he ouldn&t ha!e been in tune ith the -nfinite, and he&d probably

still be looking for a )ob.

5O7RTH. Di!ine ;rin$iple puts /od&s plan for "an into operation, and there is

no other poer or presen$e to interfere ith it one iota. This is the last point,

but it is a tre"endously i"portant one. -t is be$ause of the operation of

;rin$iple hi$h is the la, the ay, the order of things, that there is

absolutely no possibility of there being any other la to interfere ith the

operation of /od&s plan. Referring to this o"nipotent poer of di!ine ;rin$iple,

8rs. 3ddy says F8is$. 1?, lines 1=+1BI %>et us open our affe$tions to the ;rin$iple

that "o!es all in har"ony, fro" the falling of a sparro to the rolling of aorld.( There $an be no $ir$u"stan$es so great that ;rin$iple $annot $o"pass it.

There $an be no need so insignifi$ant that ;rin$iple $annot pro!ide for it. >et

us follo 8rs. 3ddy&s ad"onition to open our affe$tion to ;rin$iple. >et us

lo!e, orship, and adore that supre"e poer hi$h holds the uni!erse in pla$e.

>et us re!ere the la hi$h annihilates the possibility of there being a la to

the $ontrary. There $an be no "edi$al la to interfere ith /od&s plan for youJ

no la of la$k or e$essJ no la of false theology, e!en a la$k of edu$ation

$annot interfere ith /od&s plan for "an, be$ause the infinite poer of di!ine

;rin$iple is putting /od&s plan into operation. 0efore the presen$e of di!ine

;rin$iple all intoleran$e, bigotry, "is$on$eptions, and e!en hu"an opinions,

be$o"e as nothing, as a thing of naught. Re"e"ber that it is di!ine ;rin$iplethat does all the pla$ing, all the arranging, all the planning, all the relating


8/14

and asso$iation, all the organi*ing, all the balan$ing, all the "oti!ating. :o

onder there is nothing to interfere ith /od&s plan.

One day - had been orking parti$ularly ith the se$ond point. Refusing to

outline, - had )ust finished praying, %Hea!enly 5ather, - don&t $are hether -

dig gold in Alaska, lasso $attle in Argentina, s$rub floors in a 0ene!olentAsso$iation, or take in ashings in Ti"buktu + all - ask is that your plan for "e

be in operation,( + a friend of "ine dropped, in. #he as orried and fearful. #he

had all the sy"pto"s of $an$er. And though she had done a lot of praying in

hristian #$ien$e, the $ondition had gron steadily orse. - asked her hat she

as rebellious about, unhappy about, disturbed about #he ad"itted she as all

three of these things, be$ause her husband )ust sat beside the tele!ision and

did nothing. 7pon 2uestioning her - learned that for "any years her husband had

handled a business su$$essfully for her and her fa"ily. 5inally he had sold it

for the" at a profit. :o he anted to do hat he anted to do. He anted to

"o!e to alifornia, build a "otel and operate it. 0ut this lady did not ant to

ha!e anything to do ith a "otel and she $ertainly didn&t ant to "o!e toalifornia. -t as a onderful opportunity to help her to see that any ife

ought to en$ourage her husband in his business !entures, but espe$ially a

hristian #$ien$e ife. 5or all the ti"e she $ould be knoing it as not hat

her husband thought as right, or hat she thought as right that ould $o"e to

pass, but hat /od kne as right. #he $ould be re)oi$ing that /od&s plan for

the" as in operation, and therefore, onderful things ere happening. - told

her the ay - had been praying and - suggested that e put it in her ter"s, that

she didn&t $are hether she dug gold in Alaska, or lassoed $attle in Argentina,

or as a houseife in -ndiana, or operated the "otel in alifornia. All she

anted as that /od&s plan be in operation. #he pro"ised to pray that and she

did. The husband built the "otel in alifornia. #he learned that a business she

thought ould be boring as !ery interesting. One she thought she&d be asha"ed

of, she as really proud of. #he $a"e to appre$iate alifornia as a pla$e to

li!e far "ore than -ndiana. One reason she hadn&t anted to "o!e aay fro"

-ndiana as that her son as going into the :a!y. #he felt that she ought to

"aintain his ho"e for hi" here, so that hene!er he ould ha!e a lea!e he $ould

$o"e ho"e. Well, he did )oin the :a!y, he as stationed in alifornia and as

able to $o"e ho"e al"ost e!ery eekend. And so, fro" e!ery point of !ie, e!en

so"e - ha!en&t ti"e to "ention, it as a $o"plete de"onstration. Oh yes, - "ust

"ention the fa$t that the relationship beteen husband and ife as far "ore

onderful than it had e!er been. :aturally, ith all the bitterness, therebellion and the unhappiness gone, she as $o"pletely healed of $an$er. When

she rote to "e telling "e of her final healing, she epressed gratitude for "y

sharing this ay of praying ith her. -n the letter she en$losed the pi$ture of

a ro$k. The ro$k as the "arker of a !ery early settle"ent in alifornia, )ust

three "iles fro" their "otel. And the na"e on the ro$k as Ti"buktu #he said,

%4ou see, - ha!e $o"e to Ti"buktu after all.(

3!en though you are $o"pletely satisfied ith your present situation, e!en

though you "ight feel that there is nothing left to be desired, - sin$erely hope

that you ill ne!er let a day go by but hat you re)oi$e in the great truth that

/od&s plan for you is in operation and there is no other poer or presen$e that$an interfere ith it. That&s the ay e $an say ith su$h absolute $ertainty


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that onderful things are taking pla$e no and e!er ill $ontinue to take pla$e.

-"portan$e of Eoy

#e!eral ti"es you ha!e already heard "e say that %- a" not $on$erned about

anything, onderful things are taking pla$e,( is a positi!e, )oyous attitude.

- ould like to dis$uss ith you the i"portan$e of the 2ualities of positi!enessand )oy in your appli$ation of hristian #$ien$e. 4ou kno, e are not a$tually

pra$ti$ing hristian #$ien$e unless )oy is present in our thinking. What ould

your anser be if - ere to ask you indi!idually, %Are you happy( What ould

your anser be if - ere to ask you, %Are you supre"ely happy( -n e!ery

instan$e, e!ery single indi!idual in this audien$e should be able to say ithout

any reser!ation, %4es, - a" supre"ely happy.( Aren&t e all folloers of Eesus,

the hrist Do e not seek to obey his e!ery $o""and F#ee 8att. @1BI Eesus

"entions the i"portan$e of )oy and gladness, and he as fore!er telling his

folloers to re)oi$e and be e$eeding glad. -t&s a !ery spe$ial "essage he ga!e

to ea$h of us FEohn 16@1?I hen he told us to re)oi$e and then added, %:o "an

$an take your )oy fro" you. These things - ha!e spoken unto you that "y )oyre"ain in you, and that your )oy be full.( 4ou see, Eesus asn&t satisfied ith

our being a little bit happy he anted us to be supre"ely happy. He anted our

Eoy to be full. 8rs. 3ddy re$ogni*es the i"portan$e of happiness hen she rites

in the tetbook, %Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and >o!e. -t is unselfishJ

therefore it $annot eist alone, but re2uires all "ankind to share it.( The ;sal"s

are full of $o""ands to re)oi$e. %0e glad in the >ord and re)oi$e ye righteousJ

and shout for )oy all ye that are upright in heart.( %Kthy /od, hath anointed thee

ith the oil of gladness.( %4ea, happy is that people hose /od is the >ord.(

Do not these !ery ords and the spirit they i"part $ause your hearts to

be uplifted and "ake you desire to sing praises unto /od

O$$asionally, you ill hear so"e one say, %- ant to be happy but -

don&t kno ho to be. Ho $an - re)oi$e hen - really a" lo in spirit, and

don&t a$tually feel glad(

>et us deal ith happiness )ust as e ould any other desirable

2uality. -f you ant health and ealth, you $lai" it in its spiritual sense.

Therefore, $lai" happiness no. :ot )ust in a degree, but fully and $o"pletely.

After all, be$ause e refle$t the #upre"e 0eing, e "ust $lai" His 2ualities in

the superlati!e. lai" that you are supre"ely happy. lai" that you are one of

the happiest o"en in the uni!erse. >isten to the ay 8rs. 3ddy tells us to

de"onstrate happiness. FHea.1=, line B=I

If you wish to be happy argue with yourself on the side of happiness%take the side you wish to carry, and be careful not to talk on both sides, or to argue

stronger for sorrow than for joy. +ou are the attorney for the case, and will

win or lose according to your plea.Eust think, 8rs. 3ddy has spe$ifi$ally

appointed you, and you, andyou to be the attorney to plead the case for

happiness and joy. ust how have you been pleading the case- (ave you been

arguing the case for sadness, for moderate joy, or for supreme happiness- (ave

you been testifying that you are supremely happy now, or that you would be if

something happened, or when some circumstance might be changed-Oh, let us e!er

in in de"onstrating supre"e )oy by su$h $onsistent argu"ent as, %- a" supre"ely

happy. - kno it. - understand it. - a$knoledge it. - a" grateful and thrilled

to be the happy $hild of /odJ not only a" - supre"ely happy, but - feel it. - a"de"onstrating supre"e happiness. -n fa$t, - shout "y )oy and gladness fro" the


10/14

housetops. 8oreo!er, e!eryone sees "e as a supre"ely )oyous i"age and likeness

of /od 3$la"ation point ;eriodK 5ull stop.( Anyone ho testifies $on$erning

his )oy in su$h a "anner $annot help but feel the boundless bliss of #oul and

the rapture of di!ine 8ind.

We are $lai"ing only that hi$h is true about oursel!es. The lie is that "an$ould be $apable of being unhappy.an, never having been born into matter,

living in the heaven of divine consciousness, sees nothing, hears nothing, feels

nothing to be unhappy about.#in$e he is e!er in the presen$e of /od, good,

there is only one $ause for )oy and rapture in his eperien$e. 8rs. 3ddy

established the fa$t that "an is e!er at the standpoint of )oy hen she rote in

the tetbook, an is not a pendulum, swinging between joy and sorrow.F#CH

B6, lines 1+o!e fill all spa$e. That is enough( F-t is

truly thrilling to $onte"plate the depth of >o!e, the breadth of >o!e, the

height of >o!e, the "ight of >o!e, the "a)esty of >o!e and the glory of infinite

>o!e filling all spa$e.I And then - ask "yself, %Kis that enough to "ake you

supre"ely happy( Then - ha!e to ad"it, %-t $ertainly is(

Oh, isn&t it onderful that our happiness $annot be li"ited or restri$ted by

hu"an $ir$u"stan$es Our )oy does not depend upon hether or not e in that

auto"obile, or get that apart"ent, or "arry that girl, or in that ele$tion, orre$ei!e that inheritan$e, or obtain that salary in$rease, or eperien$e that

healing. :o, our happiness depends solely upon the fact that od is.Therefore,

our )oy and happiness $an ne!er be taken fro" us, for /od, our one and only

$ause for happiness, is fore!er ith us.

Those of you ho heard "y husband&s le$ture on %Dis$o!ering Har"onious

Relationships Through hristian #$ien$e( "ay re"e"ber the !ery apropos

illustration he used in speaking of the oil of gladness.#irst of all, he says

that saying, Ill be happy when this event takes place, or Ill be happy if

the circumstances change, is actually postponing our happiness or our heaven.

(e likened such an attitude to an individual who would take a car that wassmoking, hot, smelled funny, made funny noises, into a filling station. !nd then


11/14

when the attendant would tell him that he needed oil he would respond, /hen my

car runs smoothly, when it no longer gets hot and makes any unpleasant noises,

then I will reward it with a )uart of oil. (ow foolish$ The oil must go in

first, then the car will run smoothly. ust so in our daily e'perience. /e must

first pour in the oil of gladness% then our human affairs will be lubricated so

as to run smoothly.

-t really "akes no differen$e hat your profession + you ill be a better tea$her,

better layer, $arpenter, offi$e "anager, a$$ountant, houseife, reader or

pra$titioner, if you are re)oi$ing in the >ord. Our ork is done "ore 2ui$kly,

"ore effortlessly, "ore su$$essfully, hen e are ser!ing ith )oy and gladness.

-t is "u$h easier to de"onstrate the right sense of ho"e, $o"panionship, supply,

e"ploy"ent, har"onious relationships ith all our fello "en, if e $lai" the

)oy that is ours.

:ot only is it true that pouring in the oil of gladness benefits all of our

affairs, but it benefits our bodies, our health. -f e ish to be healthy, eshould take great doses of the oil of gladness. There is absolutely no better

"edi$ine. Way ba$k in the days of #olo"on, #olo"on hi"self re$ogni*ed that "an&s

health as influen$ed by )oy, hen he said, %A "erry heart doeth good like a

"edi$ineJ but a broken spirit drieth the bones.( F;ro!. 1?@BBI.

Did you e!er hear of a supre"ely happy indi!idual "anifesting heart trouble,

skin disease, arthritis, rheu"atis", digesti!e diffi$ulties, tuber$ulosis, or

$an$er :o, none of these $lai"s $an be "anifested hen supre"e happiness on the

basis of /od&s allness is being $onsistently "anifested. -n fa$t, no "atter hat

the physi$al $lai" "ay be, one of the "ost i"portant steps in annihilating the

error is to help the patient find his true happiness. Eoy and gladness heal.

Re"e"ber that Eesus asked the palsied "an to re)oi$e before he as healed.

A #e$ond Reader in one of our $hur$hes in "y ho"e $ity suddenly found herself

unable to alk. The $ondition pro!ed e"barrassing to her as ell as alar"ing,

be$ause here it as the end of the eek, she as supposed to read #unday, and

introdu$e a le$turer 8onday night. -t see"ed that the harder she orked in

#$ien$e the orse be$a"e her $ondition. 5inally, she stopped orking. #he turned

to /od and said, %5ather if - ne!er alk again, - kno that you are "y lo!ing

5ather+8other /od, and - a" your i"age and likeness.( #he said, in gi!ing her

testi"ony, that she as so happy, so thrilled, so blissful in the knoledge that/od as her 5ather+8other, that she honestly didn&t $are if she e!er alked

again. -t as then that she as healed. #he as so thrilled, so happy, so

satisfied, so $ontented that /od as her 5ather+8other, that absolutely nothing

else as i"portant+not e!en alking. :o onder she had her healing #he as

literally putting /od first and the alking as added unto her.

Do you re"e"ber that in the opening testi"ony - brought out a $ouple of ti"es

that, regardless of hat $a"e up in the bodies or in the affairs of these

indi!iduals, they refused to be $on$erned and they re)oi$ed that onderful

things ere taking pla$e - a" asking all of you today to adopt that sa"e )oyous

approa$h to things. Regardless of hat appears to take pla$e in your bodies orin your affairs, "aintain your )oy, argue and plead for the $ase of happiness,


12/14

de"onstrate boundless bliss + on the basis that /od is the sour$e of your )oy and

happiness and therefore, it $an ne!er be taken fro" you. Then, you too ill be

seeing onderful things take pla$e.

The ;ositi!e Attitude

Ho ould you rate yourself as a hristian #$ientist + positi!e or negati!e

Re"e"ber, that in the testi"ony gi!en, it as the positi!e attitude, as ell as

the )oyous attitude, hi$h brought about su$h onderful results. Do you a$$ept

the truth holeheartedly ithout any reser!ation -f you do, then you are

positi!e.If error seems to present itself, do you instantly reverse it and

substitute the truth- If so, you are positive. !re you absolutely sure and

certain that od is !ll and everything is perfect- 2ate yourself positive. !re

you constant, consistent, unwavering, steadfast and even stubborn in standing

with the truth- If so, rate yourself ! plus for positiveness. /hat about your

e'pectation- !re you always e'pecting wonderful things to happen- 3o you have

absolute faith that only good can come to pass--f so, there is a bit of$on!in$ing e!iden$e that you are positi!e. -&" sure that it ould be i"possible

to find a negati!e hristian #$ientist in this Asso$iation. Here are so"e bits

of e!iden$e hi$h point to negati!e hristian #$ientists. The individual hopes

that he can be healed, rather than knowing that he will be% the one who thinks

that 4hristian 5cience works for everybody else but not for him% and the

individual who is always thinking of e'pecting that the worst will happen. Then

youve heard of this attitude&It is just too good to be true. !nd what about

such comments as 6h, yes, I know Im really perfect, but I certainly dont

manifest it. 6r, I have a rich (eavenly #ather, but (e hasnt shared any of

(is wealth with me.

Then theres the individual who is sure one minute and not so sure the ne't,

standing steadfast in the truth one day but wavering the ne't, resolving never

to give up the perfect concept, and then giving it up at the very first

presentation of error. Oh, aren&t you glad that none of these des$riptions that

"ight apply to a negati!e hristian #$ientist fits you >isten to hat the

di$tionary has to say about the ord %;ositi!e( and you ill see that it is a

2ualifi$ation hi$h is essential to being a hristian #$ientist + (onfident,

$ertain, sure.( And - lo!ed this added bit, %Aggressi!ely $ertain.( -n knoing

that /od is All and that He is epressing Hi"self, and, therefore, the results

ha!e to be onderful, ho "u$h "ore thrilling it is to be $onfident, $ertain,sure, rather than to la$k $onfiden$e, to be un$ertain, unsure. Another

definition is, %lea!ing no doubt.( There $ertainly isn&t "u$h doubt as to the

out$o"e of an indi!idual&s eperien$e hen you hear hi" say, %-&" not $on$erned

about anything, onderful things are taking pla$e.(In our own thinking, in our

own contemplation, in our own praying, there should never be any doubt about the

!llness of od and the perfection of (is creation. There should only be absolute

conviction that od is !ll and everything is perfect.And oh, ho i"portant it

is in the sharing of our thinking ith others that our e!ery state"ent $arries a

ring of sureness, $onfiden$e, $on!i$tion that good is supre"e and there, that

/od&s blessings are e!er at hand.

What kind of a /od do e ha!e -s there e!er any interruption in His being


13/14

All+in+All -s there e!er any un$ertainty in /od as ;rin$iple, any de!iation in

/od as Truth, any in$onsisten$y in /od as >o!e Ea"es gi!es us a onderful

des$ription of our positi!e, $hangeless /od hen he rites, %3!ery good gift and

e!ery perfe$t gift is fro" abo!e, and $o"eth don fro" the 5ather of >ights,

ith ho" is no !ariableness, neither shado of turning.( Thus, be$ause e are

the $hildren of /od, "ade in His i"age and likeness, e ha!e no $hoi$e but toepress the 2ualities of no !ariableness, neither shado of turning.

We are all fa"iliar ith that glorious pro"ise of freedo" if e ill but kno

the truth, but there is a $ertain prere2uisite gi!en in knoing the truth. When

Eesus said, %4e shall kno the truth and the truth shall "ake you free,( the

prere2uisite he presented as, %-f ye $ontinue in "y ord, + 4e shall kno the

truth, and the truth shall "ake you free.(

When is it that e are "ost aare of the presen$e of /od When is it that e

feel His presen$e, see His allness, behold His perfe$t uni!erse and behold His

perfe$t "an -s it not hen e $ontinue in His ord -s it not hen e hold

thought steadfast to the enduring, the good and the true 8rs. 3ddy tells us,(old thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good and the true, and you will

bring these into your e'perience proportionably to their occupancy of your

thoughts.Oh, then is hen the inspiration of di!ine 8ind pours into our

aiting $ons$iousness. Then is hen e are filled ith the knoledge of the

glory of the >ord, as the aters $o!er the sea. 3o you remember 5tephens

e'perience- It was when 5tephen looked steadfastly into heaven that he saw the

glory of od, and esus standing on the right hand of od.

The attitude of steadfastness is essential to healing. Our >eader gi!es a

spe$ifi$ rule for healing hen she states, /hen the illusion of sickness or sin

tempts you, cling steadfastly to od and (is idea. !llow nothing but (is

likeness to abide in your thought. 7et neither fear nor doubt overshadow your

clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious & as 7ife

eternally is & can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which 7ife is

not.

The attitude of do"inion, of standing steadfast, of persisten$e, of $onstan$y,

of i""o!ableness, is a de"and "ade upon us by our Hea!enly 5ather. -t is a la

laid upon us by hristian #$ien$e. Therefore, e ha!e no $hoi$e but to be

steadfast and $onstant. Hoe!er, this is not beyond the ability of "an. Do"inion

is our heritage. We inherit the do"inion to be $onsistent and steadfast fro" our

Hea!enly 5ather ith ho" is no !ariableness. 8oreo!er, /od knoingly ga!e "ando"inion o!er all. -n speaking of this do"inion, our >eader says, (is

birthright is dominion, not subjection. (e is 7ord of the belief in earth and

heaven, himself subordinate alone to his aker. This is the 5cience of 8eing.

ontrolled by Truth, e are for$ed to "anifest $onsisten$y and in!ariableness.

And ith /od as our 8ind, go!erning and $ontrolling us, e ha!e no $hoi$e but to

be sure and positi!e. 8rs. 3ddy tells us to hold perpetually the thought that it

is the hrist, the Holy /host that enables us to de"onstrate ith s$ientifi$

$ertainty.

This "akes it !ery $lear that e are not alone in our efforts to epress

do"inion. /od is e!er at hand. :ot only enabling us, but i"pelling us,

$o"pelling us, for$ing us to de"onstrate ith $ertainty, ith sureness, ithpositi!eness, ith $onstan$y, ith persisten$e the rules of healing. :oti$e


14/14

that, in presenting this state"ent, 8rs. 3ddy does not say that e should ha!e

this thought today, but not to"orro, or that e should ha!e the thought e!ery

other hour. #he says, %hold perpetually the thoughtK( Oh, there as $ertainly no

!ariableness or de!iation in her approa$h, as there

There is a little prayer that 8rs. 3ddy on$e shared ith a friend of hers thathas enabled "e to epress "y do"inion in standing steadfast. This is a prayer

that 8rs. 3ddy ga!e to >aura >athrop hen she asked her to establish #e$ond

hur$h in :e 4ork ity@ There is no other mind to tempt me, harm me, or

control me. I spiritually understand this, and am aster of the occasion.-t is

be$ause the one infinite di!ine 8ind is $ontrolling us that e are in$apable of

being eak or being la$king in $onfiden$e, steadfastness and $onstan$y.

/e cannot even be tempted to lose faith, to be uncertain, Instead, we

are master of the occasion. We are those steadfast, positi!e, sure, $ertain,

$onsistent, persistent $hildren of that one 5ather+8other /od ith ho" is no

!ariableness neither shado of turning.

- ould like to $on$lude this dis$ussion on the i"portan$e of positi!eness ith

;aul&s ords F- or. 1@ord, foras"u$h as ye kno that

your labor is not in !ain in the >ord.(

wonderful things are happening

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