Have you been converted?

Have you been converted?
Commonly, the term conversion has a specific connotation to most religious believers. In the early Christian church, many of the Jewish faith as well as others, known as Gentiles, converted to the new religion that became known as Christianity. That process has continued ever since. Millions of other people over the centuries have found it in their hearts to “convert” from one religion to another - not necessarily Christianity.
So, what then does it mean to be converted? Too often the popular meaning of the term has simply to do with changing one’s declaration of belief in one religious teaching or secular denomination to another. While such a conversion surely has important significance in the individual lives of those so converted, does the act of changing one’s denomination or even basic religious faith really constitute a life-changing step? Most religious believers would say, “Of course.” For an atheist, agnostic, or member of a different religion to find and claim an immortal connection to the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ and become a Christian is momentous and without doubt changes an individual in many ways. There is undoubted, true value in finding a faith that uplifts and inspires one in life. But is that the only meaning we can ascribe to the idea of being converted?
In the Bible, Jesus is quoted as telling his followers: “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Since “entering the kingdom of heaven” is without a doubt the goal of all Christians, that makes this declaration vitally important. So what exactly did Jesus mean? Was he simply referring to, as Nicodemus asked him, the chance to return to the womb and be born again physically? Jesus made clear to Nicodemus and to his followers as well that being born again had nothing to do with one’s physical circumstances, but rather with one’s thoughts and attitudes. So too does the idea of being converted. In truth, that act has nothing to do with changing the church one attends or adopting new religious beliefs. No, Jesus was referring to the entire nature of “little children” when he commanded that his followers be converted. He meant that those who wished to find a place in the kingdom of heaven must change their thinking patterns to mimic those of little children in order to reach a state of consciousness where heaven is possible.
All of us inherently know what Jesus was talking about. We know that little children are innocent, guileless beings who trust unwaveringly in their parents. And we know that they smile and appear happy and joy-filled nearly all the time largely because they have such perfect trust and confidence in their source of provision. It is only over time as human parents fall short and disappoint their trust that older children begin to adopt the cynical, doubting attitudes that indicate their mental growth toward adulthood. Likewise it is the instruction, both direct and indirect, that parents give children that changes their natural-born loving natures into the more doubting and distrustful attitudes of the adult world. In the musical “South Pacific,” the composers include a song, “You’ve got to be carefully taught” that expresses the universality of such false teaching that too often adults impart to their children.
So, when we consider our need for “conversion” in life, do we think that since we’re members of some popular, accepted religious denomination that we have no need for such a change? I think Jesus’ admonition to his followers tells us resoundingly, “No!” We ALL need to examine our lives and most especially our thoughts to see if we are truly thinking and acting in life as little children would. Are we able to feel a complete sense of trust in others, never doubting or worrying that we may be let down? Are we happy nearly all the time because we have complete trust that we will be provided for? Do we accept all that happens to us without anger, confusion, or pain because we so trust our heavenly Father/Mother, God to be all good and to keep us perpetually safe?
Unless you can answer all those questions in the affirmative, then, at least to some degree, you do need to seek conversion in your life. You need to find that key to Jesus’ teachings that will open to you the way to childlike trust in your life. In one of her publications, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes in regards to being “born again” and becoming as a little child: “The new birth is not the work of a moment. It begins with moments, and goes on with years; moments of surrender to God, of childlike trust and joyful adoption of good; moments of self-abnegation, self-consecration, heaven-born hope, and spiritual love.” (Mis. 15:13)
Too often adults distance themselves from their innate childlike natures, thinking that they have “matured” and are thus wiser and better able to cope with life. But the very opposite is true. The more we ascribe reality to conflict, anger, lack, neglect, fear, pain, etc. – all the things that adults believe life in the mortal universe must include, the less childlike we become. And if we aspire to follow our Master, Christ Jesus, we must change our course, 180 degrees. We must return to attitudes of love, trust, and faith in our heavenly Father’s provision for us in every instance. To do this, we must find the Truth of divine Life, the reality of spiritual being, and we must consistently look away from the distorted images that mortality tries to impress upon our thougths. This process may not occur overnight or in one blinding moment of insight. It is more likely found and won in patient, consistent prayer and study of scripture and in remaining vigilant and steadfast in one’s appreciation of God’s presence and power in our lives. Yes, there may be times when the mortal senses try to convince us that such childlike trust is foolish, but it is during those very times when our faith in and adherence to the Allness of God, divine Love, as little children would cling to a human parent, that we will be lifted to find a surer sense of the validity of God’s loving care. These are the moments when we will begin to feel God’s kingdom “within” us and commune with the angels. Mrs. Eddy, in her book, Miscellaneous Writings, when defining “Angels” describes their presence thus: “The Psalmist saith: "He shall give His angels charge over thee." God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies.Never ask for tomorrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment. What a glorious inheritance is given to us through the understanding of omnipresent Love! More we cannot ask: more we do not want: more we cannot have. This sweet assurance is the "Peace, be still" to all human fears, to suffering of every sort.”
This “glorious inheritance” is what childlike trust includes, and finding the path that leads us to such trust should be our prime directive in life.
Love, love, love.
Nestling