![]() ![]() My prayers are that we come to know that the spirit within us is not to destroy lives, but to save them.Ībout 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”: It helps me see that “thou shalt not kill” links us in the common rejection of murder and that the true idea of man is an eternal spiritual power that is present to bind humanity to consciously uphold life. This fact about man enables me to pray for my local and global neighbors in a much more clarifying and effective way. She wrote in her book “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures”: “The Christianly scientific man reflects the divine law, thus becoming a law unto himself. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” ( Luke 9:55, 56).īy signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy.Īlready a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.Įach one of us has a connection with the commandment “Thou shalt not kill.” Mary Baker Eddy, Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, helps us understand this when she points to the fact that everyone’s true nature, as man – God’s spiritual reflection – is to be obedient to divine law. Jesus rebuked his disciples and said: “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. The disciples once asked him if they could destroy those who were working against Jesus and his mission. It’s an exchange between Christ Jesus and his disciples. ![]() There is a particularly helpful example in the Bible that shows that this command to protect life is within us. In my prayers to better understand God and our relationship to Him, I realize that this law isn’t some external force being imposed on us, but a law within each one of us that we fulfill by expressing who we are as God’s children. I use this law as a basis for praying for the world. I feel that this commandment helps define what truly constitutes our character – to do good, and not evil. When obeyed, this law helps us break away from sinful and destructive behavior it helps us conform to our higher nature as children of God – expressing mercy, wisdom, and acts of deep compassion. The purpose of the commandment is to free us from destructive elements of human thought that can lead to violence and killing. But to consider, “Thou shalt not kill” ( Exodus 20:13), as just a man-made law, misses its essential healing purpose. By this, we could say that almost everyone on earth, to some degree, knows that to kill another human being goes against acceptable behavior. Many religions and civic laws include the Ten Commandments in some form. I find these examples compel me to deeply consider if “Thou shalt not kill” – one of the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20:1-17) – can be more universally understood as a spontaneous and guiding force within us. (See, for instance, The Christian Science Monitor’s recent report “ How an elderly vet saved 16 children from attack in Illinois library.”) Their actions are bold reminders that humanity fundamentally can reject taking another’s life. We see many examples of people doing all they can to save lives in the face of aggression. Moments of gravity, such as that Oklahoma press conference, remind us of higher ideals – and power – that do not eclipse sports, but enrich them. No matter our backgrounds or beliefs, such a beautiful expression of peace and priority can be an inspiration for all. Character and conviction through faith can also inspire social justice conscience, as evidenced by Islamic icons Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.Entertainment drives much of what we do as a society, and its high-stakes nature through sport can consume us until we get lost in the pursuit of winning games. There are high-profile examples of faith on the field such as former and current Denver Broncos quarterbacks Tim Tebow and Russell Wilson. “Our love for each other, our love for the game, is because we know this game is giving us an opportunity to glorify God.”Certainly, spirituality in sports is not an unfamiliar dynamic. “Any other type of joy is happiness that comes from circumstances and outcomes.”“I think that’s why we’re so steady in what we do,” added Ms. Gasso’s players – the trio of Grace Lyons, Jayda Coleman, and Alyssa Brito – responded to a question about what it was like to play with the perpetual pressure of championship expectations.“The only way you can have a joy that doesn’t fade away is from the Lord,” answered the aptly-named Ms. It was a sign of routine.The team’s testimony shined through some minutes later during their postgame interview, where Ms. ![]() As it turned out, it wasn’t just a sigh of relief. Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso clasped her hands together and bowed her head after her team clinched its third consecutive NCAA title last week at the Women’s College World Series. ![]()
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