EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH
A pure heart forestalls temptation
By Seaward B. Grant
Marriage can become a testing ground for purity and honesty.
A woman I know through my work as a religious counselor had a marriage built on trust and appreciation for each other's happiness.
She was a wonderful example of those qualities we all aspire to, had a successful marriage and children, and church and social responsibilities among her daily activities.
Through her new job she was introduced to a man — also married — who quickly became her friend via e-mail. From their first introduction, a deep respect and friendship developed.
Long hours, much dialogue and conferences gave much room for thoughtful discussions. Unfortunately, things were quickly developing into a love affair.
Up to this point she had kept her personal feelings silent, but a growing urgency to share her innermost feelings came out. Regular conversations by phone began to make things more distracting, causing her to become much more dependent on the relationship. There was the temptation to commit a moral offense and break a moral obligation in her own marriage.
The Bible tells of a woman caught in an act of adultery who was freed by Jesus from a death sentence.
The textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures," written by Mary Baker Eddy, has my two favorite definitions in the glossary:
"Bride: purity and innocence, conceiving man in the idea of God; a sense of soul, which has spiritual bliss and enjoys but cannot suffer."
"Bridegroom: spiritual understanding; the pure consciousness that God, the divine principle, creates man as his own spiritual idea, and that God is the only creative power."
These definitions, to me, relate to a spiritual sense of the one true divine principle, love, which has been helpful in considering and valuing marriage vows with others through my profession.
My friend's desire was not to bring about anything that could be misunderstood or misconstrued or harm her working relationships.
She truly wanted to continue being chaste and faithful in her already established marriage.
"Simply asking that we may love God will never make us love him; but the longing to be better and holier, expressed in daily watchfulness and in striving to assimilate more of the divine character, will mold and fashion us anew, until we awake in his likeness," Eddy writes.
I believe that this woman, through prayer, began doing so, waking up to her complete freedom from being harmful, or harmed, in any relationship not built on mutual trust and respect.
As she began honestly bringing a higher, purer commitment to her working relationship with this man, the aggressive suggestions and physical attraction gradually faded away. She had overcome a temptation to sin or commit adultery. I understand a mutual respect remains between them.
I believe as we continue nurturing and protecting all the special relationships we have in the world, more grace, integrity, happiness and freedom will prevail in our universe.
Seaward B. Grant is manager of Christian Science Committee on Publication for Hawai'i. Expressions of Faith welcomes written works from pastors, priests, lay workers and other leaders in faith and spirituality. E-mail faith@honoluluadvertiser.com or call 525-8035. Articles submitted to The Advertiser may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.
