New Church Life November/December 2017 | Page 13

 the sake of which the gift was bestowed. We have much for which to give thanks to the Lord; and from the Writings, as from no other source, we can learn how to work as of ourselves to enter into the real benefits of all the Lord’s gifts, and how to promote the uses for the sake of which they were given. As we strive to do these things we will truly praise the Lord. The earth will yield its true increase, and God, our own God, will bless us. O U R N E W C H U RC H V O C A B U L A R Y Part of a continuing series developed by the Rev. W. Cairns Henderson, 1961-1966. MEDITATION As used in the Writings, this is not a synonym for reflection but a term with a distinct meaning. Meditation is a state of the interior thought of the understanding, which is the ruling love thinking, into which man comes when he is alone or in his own home and thus in freedom. It is that mental activity in which the understanding contemplates, intends and plans the ends of the ruling love, and ponders and seeks means to their attainment; and it is characterized by the fact that in it man thinks and wills what he really loves. Meditation should be cultivated as a means of becoming acquainted with the internal man and of discovering those evils which will remain hidden even from ourselves if we are never left alone. (See Divine Love and Wisdom 404; Divine Providence 61, 296) 479