I listened to this Lift at 1:15 am because I can't sleep because the exact same situation Mark talks about happened to me last night with a dear family member, and I was pulled down instead of lifting thought to God's view. Time to be quiet and bask in God's love for all. Thank you!

Thanks Mark, I really like that idea of not going down into the pit. I remember an article in the Christian Science Monitor years ago that had the title of "Sympathy or Comfort?" and it was all about giving the person comfort rather than just sympathy and doing so by lifting them out of their depression, or their sadness, or their pit so to speak by turning their thought to God. It didn't use those exact words but the idea was the same. When are friends or family are down in the dumps we need to comfort them by lifting their thought to God and not letting the pressures of the day get to them. Showing them how much God loves them and how much you love them is keeping our thoughts in that realm of God's goodness, like you said, and basking in that. That helps everyone.

Thank you, Mark, for your always-fresh perspective!

Thank you.

Thank you Mark.You always speak with such conviction.

Keep focus, if the blind guides the blind… I once heard a man saying to a lady in mourn, “I feel your pain”.
No matter how much that man loved the lady, I don’t think he helped her feeling any better by joining her in feeling pain.
Now there are two people feeling bad.
When the Bible talks about compassion I’m sure it implies to care enough to elevate the other person in your own thought. Go ahead, mentally elevate your friend to God and see the results.
ESPAÑOL
Manténte enfocado, si el ciego guía al ciego ... Una vez escuché a un hombre que le decía a una señora de lloraba la muerte de un ser querido, "Siento tu dolor".
Pese lo mucho que ese hombre amara a la señora, yo no creo que le ayudó a sentirse mucho mejor por unirse a ella en sentir el dolor.
Ahora hay dos personas se sientan mal.
Cuando la Biblia habla de compasión yo estoy segura que implica el cuidado suficiente para elevar a la otra persona en su propio pensamiento.
Eleva a tu amigo mentalmente hacia Dios y verás el resultado.

Tonight a friend returned home from a trip only to find that her home had been robbed. As I drove over to help her I focused steadily on the knowledge that God was and is certainly in charge of all of our well being. And s/he IS. Thank you for your light on this subject, Mark.

Marcos nos recuerda que podemos descubrir los estrechos vínculos que existe entre compasión y felicidad en nuestras vidas y las vidas de quienes nos rodean. Dediquemos el día de hoy y cada día en hacer que nuestros amigos se sientan mejor, es decir, más cerca de Dios, así le llamemos VIDA, AMOR, PAZ, PLENITUD... ¡Gracias por este mensaje Marcos! ¡Muy buena jornada para todos!

Oh, Mark! You have no idea how this helped me ... I've been duped by a con recently and felt so sad for the man because I felt he totally missed the point. Have been wondering how I pray about it and then your message to raise up so helped me and I realized that the only correct view of anything, is God's view. Thank you and bless you for sharing your thoughts.

You implied that sympathy (according to Webster's Dictionary) means that what affects one
affects another, whereas, compassion is being aware of another's suffering, hence, you (are not
affected) and can do something to help.

Jesus said it so well "if I be lifted up, I will draw all others unto me."

Siento que es base fundamental de la tarea ayudar a los demás a comprender a Dios y sobre todo hacerles entender cual es el camino para llegar y recibir su bendición, que es separándonos de todo lo humano y material, amando a todos por igual sin acepción de personas de ninguna naturaleza por ejemplo: Creer que puede haber algún elemento humano que pueda entorpeder la inspiración de aquellos que Sí son inspirados por Dios independientemente de educación, idioma o condociones económicas o de status humano que no pesa ni un ápice en la cuenta divina porque no somos nosotros quienes, para hacerlo ya que nosotros mismos hemos sido ayudados para llegar a una comprensión más clara que nos permita desarrollar una ayuda efectiva que sane, primeramente la moral ya que la falta de ella es el germen de toda enfermedad y luego por lógica divina lo físico, la extructura material, ya que no hay ningún "poder" que pueda oponerse a Dios y su Bondadosa manifestación.
"Te perdiste, oh Israel, mas en mí está tu ayuda" Oseas
"El corazón iluminado detesta el error, y lo hace a un lado" MBE

Muchisimas gracias a los mensajeros inspirados, y que por gracia divina podemos llegar a ser todos.

Estoy de acuerdo con Elena. Eso me recuerda la ayuda que recibí de una amiga de Rosario quien siempre me inspiró a buscar a Dios diciéndome "acurrucate en el AMOR DE DIOS Y NO TE SALGAS". ¡Gracias Olga por hacerlo! ¡Gracias Elena por tu mensaje!

These daily lifts are so helpful. I am very grateful. What a wonderful idea, The Mother Church is so generous and really loving. I am very grateful indeed. Claire

Many thanks Mark for reminding us to lift our thoughts and "stay on top." "... legitimate Christian Science, aflame with divine Love."(S&H 367) "God's angels ever come and go,/ All winged with light and love;/ They bring us blessings from on high,/ They lift our thoughts above,/ They whisper God is Love. " (Christian Science Hymnal #9.)

Thank you for your perspective on compassion. God does take care of everything, no matter where we are God is always there to take care of things.

Thank you, Mark!!

Yes! Thank you! Starting with God! God cares for man. 8-))

Affirming for myself right here and right now, "Be still and know that I am God!"

Sometimes it takes a lot more courage than we feel we are capable of, to take that initial stand of waiting on God, and of turning away from the problem and turning to all we know of God and Christian Science, but in every instance that is the only way to start achieving the healing outcome we are praying for.
By starting with God, and all we have learned of Him; and the list of healings, experiences and demonstrations of Christian Science we have accumulated over the years of practice, we can feel our thoughts becoming less impressed by the situation, and more open to all that is true of God. Mrs Eddy says on page 1 of Prayer in Science and Health: "Regardless of what another may say or think on this subject, I speak from experience." Each one of us has a similar experience - or many! - when we just had to stay with Mrs Eddy's own words of healing. If it takes a minute or as long as necessary, the healing of thought is certain. How good to be able to claim that for ourself and for our friends. It really is the only way to go.
Thank you Mark, for this great Lift; thank you Nate and the production team; the BoL and lecturers, and YDL support team.

I heard an explanation this past year of sympathy, empathy and compassion. A man was walking along and fell into a pit. It was just deep and steep enough he could not climb out. He called and called and finally someone heard him. He explained what happened and the person said, "Man, I feel you pain!" and sat down and started crying over the situation.(Sympathy) Shortly another person came by, saw the first person sitting on the edge of the pit crying, heard the man calling from below and looked over the edge. The man in the pit saw him, told him what happened and the second person said, "Oh man, I feel you pain! " and jumped in. (Empathy) A short time later a 3rd person came by, saw the one sitting at the edge of the pit crying and heard the 2 in the pit calling out. He leaned over, the man who first fell into the pit explained what happened. The 3rd person said, " Man, hold on, I will be right back." The 3rd person (Compassion) went to get a rope and pulled both out of the pit. Everyone rejoiced! Compassion took action while Sympathy and Empathy could not see past the pit.

Great reminder to stay on top of things through prayer and God. Boy, do I need to keep this in the forefront of my thought. Thank you, Mark....God bless us today and always.... :-)

Thanks for this gentle Christly reminder of the best way to help ourselves and others. While I thought of immediate local applications, the dear world is awaiting the same powerful lift. And here it is, courtesy of The Mother Church Board of Lectureship and the Daily Lift Team. "God so loved the world. . ." Jn 3:16.

Mark, you´ve just helped me a lot with your message!
Indeed, this reminder will bless many others throughout the world the way it did to me!
Thank you very much, for your inspiration!

Thank you, Mark. And thank you #19, Joanna, for further clarification with your story about the 3 men in the pit. It's so easy to believe we are being helpful to a friend by expressing sympathy or even empathy, when in fact the kindest thing to do is to is to have compassion and PRAY!!! Elevation of thought invites everyone to join in and be blessed.

THANKS FOR YOUR DAILY LIFTS TO ME AND THEY WERE WELL MEANING TO ME AND AND AM BLESS WITH THEM ALL, GOD BLESS YOU.
YOURS, GIDEON

Thank you Mark. I made me think about the difference between human sympathy and divine compassion. When we bring that blessed sense of divine comfort to ourselves, then we are ready to truly comfort other people. If we are not ready to comfort others in the truth of the kingdom, then we are liable to bring them human sympathy which is not at all beneficial because it is possible to regard their plight as having some sort of reality in the kingdom. True spiritual compassion involves seeing the human situation as uncreated, unreal, without cause or effect. If we want to rescue someone from the depths of their despair, we cannot do so if we are regarding their situation as being God created or God blessed. Thank you again

Regarding the man in the pit reminds me of something I heard a long while ago.when a drunk had fallen down. And his friend weaving over him said: "I can't help you up, but I could lie down with you." Not much help. So let's all stay sober, always ready to help others, and ourselves, to be ready to be lifted from the pits. - Anonymous.

Interesting how we play "musical words" sometimes (a version of musical chairs). For instance, we sometimes joke about avoiding "pity parties", yet Mrs. Eddy once described how a remarkable healing took place when she PITIED someone. The words "sympathy" and "compassion" both are about "feeling with" another. So we can't always rely on a particular word being the right one and another being the wrong one. And sometimes we may be convinced we were hopelessly awry when we tried to offer help, yet the end result is the help was received! "God will overturn... until" the right initiative is acknowledged and happy results follow. We can affirm this constructive overturning in every breath, thought, word, and effort, even when we seem to be momentarily "brought down" by a disturbing event or picture. We can "know how to be abased, and how to abound" as we seek conscious awareness of Love's allness through any seeming phases of illusion, be they dire or pleasant. This is good news to remember in the morning, whether we wake up feeling euphoric or GRUMPY.

Muy agradecida por tu ayudador Daily Lift Mark !!! Tu mensaje de compasión hacia los demás , me recuerda las palabras de Jesús : ' Que os améis unos a otros, como yo os he amado' (Juan15:12).
La compasión que sentía el amado Maestro por la sufriente humanidad , lo llevaba siempre a elevar el nivel de conciencia de aquéllos que solicitaban su ayuda . No veía ni daba poder al error en los demás, sino veía y amaba correctamente, al Hijo/a del Padre único.
Leemos en Mateo : ' Y saliendo Jesús , vio una gran multitud, y tuvo compasión de ellos, y sanó a los que de ellos estaban enfermos' (14:14) .

Y esa es también nuestra sagrada tarea en esta fase de existencia, pienso . Amar y sentir compasión verdadera por el prójimo al estilo del Cristo .

Agradezco los comentarios previos , c/u comparte ideas inspiradas.
Un abrazo grande y mucho Amor reflejado por todos, Ma. Cristy

I felt the Compassion and Love in your voice and thought, as well as the UpLift of the Truth! Thank you, Mark! Mrs. Eddy talks about needing Human Affection right alongside knowing the Scientific Truth. Jesus expressed a lot of human affection to his friends. I think it even says in the Bible that "Jesus wept" when he heard of the death of his friend, Lazarus. But then he went on to raise him from the dead. So, I don't feel we need to "turn a cold shoulder" to our friends in despair, but we need to find that balance between letting them know that we understand their feelings and then lift our thoughts in scientific prayer to help lift their life experience higher. Thank you!

P.S. Oh! I just found the perfect correlation to Mark's Lift in Section V of this week's CS Bible Lesson: Romans 12: 10 & 16: "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;......." "Be of the same mind one toward another." There it is - we need both!

Thank you, Mark, it is just what I needed to hear. Sympathy makes a reality out of the mortal dream, but compassion puts it in the right context so we can feel Love's power and presence and overcome these mortal dream illusions.
Thank you, Joanna- I love your explanation of sympathy; empathy; and compassion, it reminds me of a farmer whose mule fell in a well. Since he could not get him out , he decided to bury him, but each time he threw in dirt,the mule shook it off and finally was free. Let us shake the dust off our feet and rise above error so Truth and Love can govern and we can be under Spirit's sweet control.

Thank you Mark. Your message was perfectly timed, and was just what I needed today.

Do you suppose that we have generally taken Jesus’ quote “Love thy neighbor as thyself” (Mark 12:31) out of context? Do we see our neighbor’s experience as a separation from good and then flounder around in how to deal with this “pit” in a loving way?

Jesus preceded this commandment with “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, .. soul, .. mind, and .. strength: this is the first commandment.” Mark 12:30.

As I see God’s connection to me, so must I see my neighbor’s. It’s a mutual benefit association!

Great stuff written already (1-31) Thanks all!

Thank you Mark. Wonderful lift today. I am very grateful.

Thank you.

Thank you Mark!

Thank you, Mark, for your always sweet gentle reminder to stay focused on God.

Thanks

I like #19 response. The old,"I feel for you but can't quite reach" that low. So, "I will get a rope and bring you up." to a higher plane of thought. The mule story (31) also gives an analogy getting out of a hole. When you lift your thoughts,they will lift you out of gloom bt whatever name it is called.

What a blessing! Mark your statements are so strong and compassionate. All the lifters comments are most helpful and uplifting also. I am striving to climb out of that pit of sympathy.

Thank you, Mark. I really appreciate the way in which you deliver this lift - like we were friends having a conversation. What you describe here is to me the difference between sympathy and compassion. So often with sympathy, you crawl into the 'pit' with the friend. Compassion, on the other hand, is having great empathy for the situation, but in an uplifting and helpful way. Jesus always had 'compassion', never 'sympathy', so stated in the Bible. Great gratitude to all the DL folk! You make my day.

Thank you Mark. Important to know the difference between sympathy and compassion.

Thank you Mark!

Thanks to Mark and thanks to everyone for their comments!

Thank you for this Lift as I soon will attend a funeral for a neighbor of 20 years. I will not get into "the pit" but show true compassion for the family. These comments were exactly what I needed this morning.

Thank you so much for that beautiful lift! When my dad passed away(at a very advanced age) we called 911 and they sent the paramedics and a grief counselor who tried to get me to cry........I had been studying what Life is and kept telling her that we just can't die out of Life and I wasn't going to go down into that pit and cry---it would be just too hard to climb out. The grief counselor was so happy to hear my explanations of Life and when she left she said, "this has been a good death--I mean life"........~

Thank you Mark. How refreshingly true!

Perfect timing as always . . . . called to the side of a sick friend yesterday and going back today . . . this reminder helps so much.

Sometimes when I have approached a situation that is needing prayer,I've said,"Okay,God,I'm watching You".That always frees me to watch and listen for His hand ln the situation.Immediately, I become a witness to the human need being met and am able to affirm that God is meeting the need.It has always strengthened me and helped beautifully!

Thank you so much Mark and I am looking forward to your lecture in Englewood FL on Saturday the 18th.

Some weeks ago, a fellow lifter, gave the title of a book published in 1944, that had helped. The Great Answer. I was able to find it, and yesterday, in the face of an unyielding problem with a loved one, I read it straight through. Dawn till dusk. It includes many astonishing results of prayer during WW11. No outward change has taken place yet, but I awoke with the calm assurance that I have sometimes experienced when able to hold to the idea of only God being present - while the bombs are yet dropping so to say. I appreciate the assurance of todays Lift with the confidence it brings, and the care of the earlier Lifter spreading such helpfulcourageous information. Thank you.

Thank you so much Mark. Boy did this come at the right time. I have been taking others problems to heart and sinking with them. I am so very graeful for you daily "lift", yes.. I need to stay on top, lifting my thoughts upward and prayerfully step back. Blessing upon blessing pour down, when we stay in belief.I am going to go back now and read the comments.

Thank you, Mark. The daily lift goes right along with this weeks lesson on Mind.

Christian Science reveals incontrovertibly that Mind
is All-in-all, that the only realities are the divine Mind
and idea.

. . . it is wise earnestly to
consider whether it is the human mind or the divine
Mind which is influencing one.

We can have but one Mind, if
that one is infinite.

With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would
be brethren; and with one Mind and that God, or good,
the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth,
and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which
constitute divine Science.

. . . a belief in many ruling minds hinders
man’s normal drift towards the one Mind, . . .

Divine metaphysics, as revealed to spiritual understand-
ing, shows clearly that all is Mind, and that Mind is
God, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience,
that is, all power, all presence, all Science.

Through divine Science, Spirit, God, unites under-
standing to eternal harmony. The calm and exalted
thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace.


Thanks again for sending out the Christ message. I am grateful for this healing message this morning.

Truth, Wisdom, Love, and Sincerity, to all!

Rob Scott
Chicago, IL

From the Daily Lift Team:
Quotes are from the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.

Amen, Brother!!

This lift is well timed for me and much appreciated!! I love your definition of compassion. Lately I have been dealing with loved ones that feel I need to be more empathetic and express more sympathy with those who seem to be dealing with sorrow, despair and discord. They say I should stop offering solutions and just offer a shoulder to cry on.....I have a hard time with this! I don't feel anyone deserves to be in a "pit" for any length of time, my desire is to throw them a rope to help them out. However in some cases I will need to keep this to myself and maintain a compassionate response in thought.....what is God's view? Thanks Mark.

This is so true. While the picture of a friend before us seems to cry out for commiseration, the real need is for Truth that washes out the unfortunate, negative picture with which they feel they suffer. As you note, this usually has to be spoken silently because it can come across as a "holier than thou" feeling when vocalized. But really the positive Truth emphatically and joyfully known is true empathy, wiping out the illusion with the reality that looks like healing but is only the restoration of reality in consciousness that is native, original perfection.

I'll bet we all need this one--I certainly did!

Thanks for the lift. I am reminded that a practitioner told me once that the opposite of depression is expression and to accompany that thought with the fact that we are all God's expression. By the way, I love the 'expression' re-Minded.

Exactly what I needed right now. Thank you Mark

WOW,, thank you!

p.s. I wanted to acknowledge how helpful I found the ocmments, Erik, thank you (no.27) and Bev also, it helps someone like me, who can get caught up by a word, instead of thinking it through and also, that word, balance. so important, to remember "all things in God's timing" His timing is always perfect. thank you to all who took time to comment.I am grateful

Response to #53 Brad:

I was trained in effective communication in a business course called Integrity Selling.

We were taught to utilize CPR (Cushion, Probe, Respond). The Cushion is extremely important before you respond with the evidence. The Cushion usually begins with letting the person know you understand what they are saying to you, you hear them, and are listening. If you skip this step then the other person feels shut out and you will never get through 'the mental gate' with the healing message.

You might say: "I can see how to the human sense this situation may seem difficult and I hear and understand your concern or what you are saying". Now they are much more receptive to letting you in with the healing message.

I read once that Mrs. Eddy said it is not enough to say sin, disease, or death is a lie. It is a real lie.

TWLS,

Rob Scott

Chicago, IL

Compassion and keeping my eye on God is such a helpful thought. Getting in the pit is such a temptation. Thank you for your uplifting Lift.

Thanks everyone! And to think that I was going to pass over today's lift because of other concerns. What an incredible mistake that would have been. #54 -- "healing .. is ,,, the restoration of reality in consciousnes..." woke me out of mesmerism.

Dear Mark, What a glowing uplift. Thank you.

Thanks Mark and everyone........a great hymn has this line, "...fold to thy heart, thy brother.." and as we do this from the standpoint that God is our whole heart, we are folding ourselves and others in God's goodness and grace. WOW......thanks for this lovely uplifting lift. AND for everyone who has contributed.

Mark, your message couldn't be more relevant to a current "situation" in my life. Praying to know the difference between sympathy and compassion is so key, with the former requiring that we "go down into the pit" with error, or the mortal picture, and the latter requiring that we rely on prayer, listen for God's message, be still, and then act with divine intuition at our backs, making us truly effective--and kind. Thank you so much. I expect good and for this friend's challenges to be met, resolved, and to give her the gift of growth in grace--and me, too. Throwing a friend a "life-line" can be a truly Christianly-scientific event!

I have to add to my words above about sympathy, compassion, pity, (and empathy which I didn't mention) They are ALL USEFUL AS LONG AS THEY ARE PART OF BRINGING LOVE'S OMNIPOTENCE INTO HUMAN AWARENESS. With Love at the helm of thought, we can get out or stay out of all sorts of pits. Distinctions of meaning seem always to be on some sort of a sliding scale, but our divinely supported intentions in their use will always bless. And I also am specifically grateful for the distinctions implied in this Daily Lift, as well as for the kindly way they were spoken. As always, right intention keeps helpful distinctions from being mistaken for formulas.
Thanks, Mark!

I am so grateful for this lift Mark, it is just what I needed to help confront a problem I seem to be having with a friend. Thank you so much:)

THANK YOU SO MUCH, I ALSO HAD SUCH AN EXPERIENCE, I WAS WORRYING ABOUT A FRIEND & THEN THE THOUGHT CAME: GOD IN NOT WORRYING ABOUT HER, SO WHY SHOULD I? HE SEES HER AS HIS PERFECT CHILD & SO CAN I, & THAT PUT AN END TO IT.

I get so much out of the daily lifts. Thanks to all who participate including the commneters as well as the speakers. There is a wonderful movie club I belong to called Spiritual Cinema that has uplifting movies and cute short films. I learned recnetly that the co-founder was the producer of the Movie "What Dreams May Come." When my husband passed on suddenly last year I sought this movie out again. I love the beautiful colorful rendition of heaven and the explanation of how it works but most of all I needed to be reminded about how Robin Williams' character finds his way to hell to try to pull his wife out of her self made hell of sorrow from having lost her children in an car accident. If the husband stays too long he will forget and lose himself in that pit of hell but it is worth the risk since he loves her. Love is always the answer, isn't it?

The point as it relates here is that we cannot get into someone else's dream (or even one of our own making) even as we make great efforts to help lest we too could get stuck in the mirey pit of the hell that seems presented. We need to practice self compassion as well and pull ourselves from the firey furnace of lies about us. As my friend Pauline says: If the movie is blurry, you don't fix the screen; you adjust the projector. Our thought is prayer and we can see the truth about ourselves and our friends. We can project the truth in our thought no matter what the current movie wants to say. Thanks for the insights

Thanks Mark & for all the great comments!

Thanks Mark, after this lift I realized that I have alienated myself (for survival ) mainly falling into this pit of despair over the economy, people loosing their homes and just the general popular belief that is going on - I remember reading MBE, had said " remember who you are !" which I've been working on and yesterday I heard a motivational speaker say " what have you allowed to define you ? it was so clear that I had a choice and am working from there . Thanks Joanna #19, that really sums it up for me . We can still have compassion and divine love for others and not get caught up in their illusion of error!

Thanks again, Mark for a wonderful visit with your thoughts! Erik mentioned your voice as you spoke to us being so kindly and that your right intention always comes through, not as a formula but as a message of love.
When I was a teen, I felt others' sad thoughts like a call to arms. I would immediately try to sooth or if they were left out thoughts, to bring them in. It was way too personal but my heart was in the place of love so I could over come the pit they were in most of the time.
One day there came to my ears such a long sad story that i felt impelled to do something!!
I suggested all sorts of things that might help humanly and even tried to force the person to go my way! Wow, what a wake up call I had! The dear person felt so confused by my efforts that she said, "I really just wanted you to listen to me for awhile. I know it will all work out!" Yikes, almost got lost in sympathy. You know what, her problem was solved in a way I could never have seen. I learned a great lesson, Other peoples' problem belong to them and no one else! They are the growing times they will remember best when they get the blessings from them.

Thanks Mark for the awesome lift today. Thanks also to #19 Joanna who clarified this lift even more for me

No matter what the problem is, sorrow, sickness or sin it is a suggestion--not fact. Mrs. Eddy tells us: "Good thoughts are an impervious armor; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort. And not only yourselves are safe, but all whom your thoughts rest upon are thereby benefited." Thanks Mark!

OK, Rob Scott # 61. I have to ask what TWLS is. Is it like LOL for "Laugh out loud"? Does anybody know? Oh, by the way Mark, the Lift was great, as always, but still I had to ask about TWLS. Thanks in advance to whoever answers.

Thank you Mark. I was writing this daily lift out, before my lunch date. I was bombarded with so much. I knew I had to pay for the meal. I had focused on God and thanked him. But then the needs never ended.

They wanted me to come over and babysit their five kids so they could celebrate a birthday. I had plans to be home with my husband. How much do I do for neighbors? Where does it draw the line?

The pit kept getting bigger...the sisters don't work together. They fight and argue. The dad needs his time frame. And the 3 grandkids have allergies. 2 other grandkids run around the house and don't mind. What was my beautiful loving Father sending me?

I lost it and screamed at them at the restaurant that God was in control. And God would tell me how to handle their kids. And God provided you a sitter so be grateful and let go. Trust God.

Thank you for this. I didn't see the pit coming. But I do know that I am like the horse that a Christian Science lecturer shared, where he kept getting dirt on him and the horse, as they were in the pit. And the horse shook it off and soon they were able to walk out of the pit. And I know I am free. And those kids are free too as Mrs Eddy defines them as representatives of Life, Truth and Love. And Another lecturer said in an audio chat on Spirituality.com...it is a promise...what Jesus gave us.." Thy will be done in earth as it is heaven". And Jesus says...thine. Is the kingdom...we will be sitting in the kingdom, not the pit.

Here's another rendition of the "pit" story. Someone falls into a pit. Sympathy comes along with a ladder and climbs down and joins him. However, when compassion comes along with a ladder he will put the ladder into the hole enabling the person to climb out. Loved your lift, Mark, and all the lifted remarks. Blessings to all.

In Mary Baker Eddy's autobiography "Retrospection and Introspection" ( searchable on Spirituality.com), Mrs. Eddy quotes a poem by A.E. Hamiliton: Ret 95:4
"Ask God to give thee skill In comfort's art: That thou may'st consecrated be And set apart Unto a life of sympathy. For heavy is the weight of ill In every heart; And comforters are needed much Of Christlike touch." In Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary, which Mrs.Eddy used, a second meaning for sympathy reads:" An agreement of affections, or a conformity of natural temperament, which makes two persons pleased with one another". An experienced CS practitioner told me that when someone calls for help, she may "walk with them a little while" to hear the need, but all the while she is knowing the Truth, and receptive to God to know what healing thoughts to affirm. We can learn to comfort and lift our own thought by turning to "the promised Comforter" Jesus spoke of... seeking to recognise God's pure and undefiled ideas, as understood in the Science of Christ. God, divine Love, tenderly enfolds and protects us all, purifies our motives, and inspires the expression and action needed to "meet every human need", from a spiritual standpoint, in ways that can be humanly understood- which may take the form of a hymn or spiritual idea familiar to the one seeking help, such as Jesus used, or be expressed in small kindnesses, or ideas to be grateful for that gently turn thought to God's ever-presence as our refuge, source, and strength.

Thank you for all of these great comments and insights! It's true, compassion is what's needed. When Jesus saw Peter sinking into the water, he didn't get down into it with him; he stayed on top, reached down and helped Peter up. That's compassion that heals. Now this makes more sense to me: "Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick" (Matt. 14:14).

This is exactly what I needed to hear today! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

Amen to #73 Sally, San Diego!!! It says in many ways in the Bible and in Mrs. Eddy's writings to "work out your own salvation...."! We really can't (even if we wanted to) work out anyone else's salvation. But we can offer our Love and Support and uplift them in thought. Isn't this what Practitioners do? They don't jump in and try to humanly help anyone or give them advice. They are usually at a distance, quietly knowing the Truth and offering their Treatment, Love and Support. Ultimately, it's the patient that wakes up and realizes the healing!

Thank you Mark and for all of you, for your compassion to submit your thank you's and thoughts.
Most grateful

Thank you!!

Sometimes it helps to make light of a situation, share humor-I mean God made man-so we know He must have a sense of humor.

Thank you, Mark, and all the Lift family commenters. This is a very important point to understand rightly.
I am still mentally "chewing it over", for I want to go beyond a merely intellectual knowledge of word definitions -- pity, sympathy, empathy, compassion -- to gain the true, spiritual sense ot things. Mrs. Eddy uses these terms in different contexts. There can be both a right kind of sympathy and a wrong kind of sympathy. For example, "Sympathy with error should disappear." (S &H 211:21) So agreement
with the false belief behind a perceived problem doesn't promote healing in the long run but only delays it. On the other hand, "Mortals have only to submit to the law of God, come into sympathy with it, and to let His will be done." (Mis. 208: 11 - 12) So sympathy or agreement with Truth is good and raises the human thought into harmony with Divine Love which would then call forth a compassionate response.
So grateful that Christ Jesus has shown us the way to demonstrate this.

Thanks Mark for what and how you presented your thoughts today! With all the sharing from each individual today, you can see there was a great "need" to hear what you had to share with us! I, too, especially appreciated Joanna's (#19) explanation and appreciated Ruby's (#31) mention of the mule story. I've heard that before and whether it's a mule or horse, the results are the same....they "rise up" and are out of the pit! Thanks to everyone for your comments today, they were all so helpful and inspiring!

Thanks Mark. I find the 'Daily Prayer" in the Christian Science Church Manual (p. 41) most helpful in showing compassion towards our fellow man:
"Thy kingdom come.
Let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love
be established in me, and
rule out of me all sin;
and may Thy Word enrich
the affections of all mankind,
and govern them!”
en español
Gracias Mark. Encuentro La Oración Diaria en el Manual de La Iglesia de la Ciencia Cristiana (p.41) más útil en mostrar compasión hacia el prójimo
"Venga tu Reino";
haz que el reino de la Verdad, la Vida y el Amor divinos
se establezca en mí, y
quita de mí todo pecado;
¡y que Tu Palabra fecunde los afectos de toda la humanidad,
y la gobierne!

To #76 Roselyn: See #53 Rob Scott where he signed his comment, "Truth, Wisdom, Love and Sincerety, to all. TWLS!

Thanks, Mark. Your point is well taken. Sometimes when we sympathize with another's problem, it becomes even a bigger challange. Helping another see through the problem to a spirtual answer is true compassion. Doug from Benicia, CA

Thank you Mark for that lovely lift. It was so simple and pure. Thank you Mark for bringing CS out so clearly to us.

Right on, Mark....

Thanks...

Thank you for all you do. Your lifts are always full of love and grace and right on target.

Almost Thurs here in the eastern US, but never too late to say thanks for such a helpful lift!

Yes, not going into pit but stay at the top is a great reminder how to start praying. Thank you, Mark.

Thank you Mark.

Yes, Mark -- It's so easy to over- sympathize! Glad there's another way.

Thanks

I really like this daily lift because keeping your thought lifted has effects that go beyond just what you see. The effect is wide spread.

I love your comment about going to God for the real scene, for the true story about what's going on with someone. Isn't that what we do when we pray for healing of anything...we go to God for the true story about what's going on. I love the "basking in God's love" as well, I am doing that right now and it's such a good place to be. Heartfelt gratitude, Mark, and lifters, and Daily LIft Team. Think of the "lifting up" of global thinking with these lifts. It's awesome and inspiring, and we haven't a clue how much good it is doing!

A story in a Sentinel? a long time ago told how a man's donkey fell into a deep pit and could not be extricated; the animal was crying piteously, so it was decided the only solution was to bury it to put it out of its misery. So the man started shoveling earth into the hole: quite soon the crying stopped; after a while the donkey's head popped up and soon he jumped out of the hole and went off happily ! The earth did not bury him, he just stood on it and it raised him up ! So as Mark suggested we can 'fill the hole' with love and the unhappy person can build on that ! Thank you for all the wonderful ideas by the DL presenters and the follow-on thoughts - inspirational !

Have been feeling in a bit of a hole myself just lately, and I am so pleased I looked in on this lift today I just feel so uplifted by you all Thank you all so much zs

Thanks Mark; I needed that Angel lift. When the fog rolls in and you're flying blind, it's time to gain altitude. My wings seem to be icing, so your lift was much needed. The Bible says, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, then there is lifting up" (maybe not word for word). When you "lift up a standard in the cloud of battle, the christian warriors can take heart, follow it and snatch victory from apparent defeat.

Lovely, wonderful, so timely. I have had some experiences lately where this applies perfectly. Thank you!

A Christian Science Practioner that I knew many years ago gave me a simple explanation of what compassion and sympathy meant from a Christian Science viewpoint, and this was it:
SYMPATHY--When a person falls into a well and you go down into the well thinking to help this person get out. Now both are trapped in the well.
COMPASSION--The opposite happens. A person falls into a well, but instead of going down into the well to help him out, A strong rope is sent down for the person to grab and climb out. Isn't that a better way of helping a person overcome any difficulty?