human
Well dear, I'm only talking on general principles, and what I have discovered in myself--
gpt
Please tell us what you have found Mrs. Hayden, said Grace.
human
We need all the light we can get, and no matter how it may cut, we won't shrink will we, Kathie?
gpt
No, we'll only know and be glad that the hot blaze of truth is melting some more of the dark spots in our range of vision,
human
It is only this, began Mrs. Hayden, modestly.
gpt
I have been looking my theory and practice squarely in the face lately, and I find them in many things quite widely separated. For instance, I have been saying for three years that there is no evil, while in many cases my actions have carried the very opposite idea, and--
human
Why, what do you mean, Mrs. Hayden? cried Kate in astonishment,
gpt
For one thing then, I have never put away the tendency to pronounce judgments on people or things, and I must get beyond that before I prove that I mean what I say, when I say there is no reality in evil.
human
But surely we can't help seeing the negative side of things,
gpt
No, but we _can_ help making it positive, and we can avoid fighting against it if we only stick to our first statement that there is but one Law.
human
I see what you mean, said Grace quietly.
gpt
You mean that we must hold so perfectly to the allness of Good, that no shadow of ignorance can ever darken our vision or our consciousness.
human
Yes, indeed, we all see that that is the ultimate, interposed Kate with some warmth,
gpt
In the first place we must know that the ultimate is always in the Now, and that by holding to our highest statements with that thought, we can rest in the consciousness of the allness of Good as Grace has expressed it. With that consciousness there is no judgment and no resistance.
human
Please make it a little plainer,
gpt
Well, last summer when I was called to treat Mrs. Hart's child, as you know, the father knew little or nothing of the Science, and when he insisted on having a physician what did I do? Instead of calmly realizing that all the medicine in the world could not hurt Truth, and dealing with his ignorance as I would with his fear, I felt that it would be a terrible thing to countenance such disloyalty, and so withdrew from treating the case, forgetting that the father's ignorance could not be called disloyalty; forgetting that my faithfulness to principle would be the same regardless of any and all ignorance. In fact my action belied my words that there is no reality in evil.
human
But--why, what else could you do?
gpt
I could, or at least I ought to be able to maintain my faith and my consciousness of Good just the same under those, as other circumstances, and so make no resistance.
human
Oh yes, I see what you mean, exclaimed Grace suddenly.
gpt
You mean that we make _something_ of what we declare as nothing?
human
Exactly, Grace. We resist it by thinking it something antagonistic to Truth, whereas we should remember our first statement that there is but one Power. It is the One that heals in every instance. We know that. Why should we stop to combat what other people think or do not think?
gpt
There! Now I understand you, ejaculated Kate with a brightening face.
human
It is the One only which acts under all disguises, and--but what would you have us do?
gpt
Dear, I am not talking of persons or laying down rules of action for anybody, but I am giving you my idea of the non-resistance of evil. The question with me is, am I 'about my Father's business.' If I accuse someone of being unfaithful, or if I criticise any methods, means or persons, I still believe in something besides the Good. Even if I accuse myself in any way no matter how slight the fault, I am recognizing that which I have declared does not and never did exist. You see what I mean. There is no use to multiply examples.
human
Oh yes, I see, but can I live up to it? That is the all important question,
gpt
As for that I might say the same, but we are not to look at that side of the question. A safe and I think the very best guide to right living, is to measure every act by the standard of love. Would love prompt this or that thought, or decision or action? It is very easy to decide.