The Devil’s Auction by William Rathvon
I found this in Science of Mind this month in an article by Rev. Margaret Storz. It made me sit up and pay attention. Written in 1911, William Rathvon was a Christian Scientist.
The Devil’s Auction
It was once announced that the Devil was going out of business and would offer his tools for sale to whoever would pay his price. On the night of the sale, they were all attractively displayed, and a bad-looking lot they were. Malice, envy, hatred, jealousy, carnality, deceit, and all the other implements of evil were spread out, each marked with its price. Apart from the rest lay a harmless looking, wedge0shapred tool, much worn and priced higher than th others.
Someone asked the Devil what it was, “That’s discouragement,” was the reply.
“Well, why do you have it priced so high?”
“Because,” replied the Devil, “it is more useful to me than any of the others. I can pry open and get inside a person’s consciousness with that when I couldn’t get near with any of the others, and when once inside, I can use the person in whatever way suits me best. It is so much worn because I use it with nearly everybody, as very few people yet know that it belongs to me.”
“You say you use this wedge of discouragement with nearly everybody. With whom can’t you use it?”
The Devil hesitated a long time and finally said in a low voice, “I can’t use it in getting into the consciousness of a grateful person.”
Now, truth to tell, I don’t believe in the Devil, per se, but I do indeed believe in and have experienced bedevilment, and so have you. Even in this small teaching story, the author proves what is so about evil of any kind—it has within it the seed of its own destruction by its very nature. So as we approach the tension-laden holy-days, let us resort at all costs to gratitude which will keep us from bedevilment every time.
Blessed Season of Light!
For spiritual nourishment, visit Dr. Susan Corso’s website and blog, Seeds for Sanctuary. Follow her on Twitter @PeaceCorso and Friend her on Facebook. And discover your own Inner Peace at, To Me Peace Is … What is Peace to You?
