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Some people have so much Love and are so in tune
with the Creative Mind that even
though they are in the same body, they actually live many lives on this
planet before they move onward and upward into the Divine Realm of
Infinite possibilities. This was the experience of
Rev. Dr. O. C. Smith.
It is useless for me to try and use words to describe Dr. O. C. Smith. How can you describe what happens when another's soul touches
yours? I am certain that Dr. O. C.'s soul touched thousands but the
experience that he shared with so many, seemed personal to each. He
was a breath of Life and Love that filled every room that he walked
into. His very presence was so overwhelmingly loving and powerful
and non-judgmental that one could feel a lessening of their troubles just
by being in his presence. Dr. O. C. loved
people, all people, more than they loved themselves, because he identified
with the greatness within them, not their limitations. He saw people
as God sees them; capable, empowered, loving and wonderful. This is
the greatest lesson he could teach his students, to let the way that God
sees His creations be reflected through us.
Many
people will speak and write about his musical career and the rich heritage
of music that he gave the world, so I will not address that work.
Except to write that the song "God Didn't
Make Little Green Apples" will always touch my soul. I
am very blessed to have Dr. O. C. as my ministerial teacher.
Each and every class was like a gift where each student received a present
of his insight and spiritual awareness. His was a ministry based on
the understanding that we are living God's Life and as we allow God to use
us and come into the realization that God Is using us, our Life becomes a
Love Story filled with gladness, joy and a continual expectancy of
Good. "I am so happy, I don't know
what to do!," Dr. O. C. would open many a class with
this exclamation and a wave of happiness and ease would sweep through the
class. No one could resist the irresistible Love that Dr. O. C.
embodied and generously expressed.
He taught his classes from the Center of Love within him. He told
the ministerial class, ".....this is not
something to play with. A minister affects people's lives, this is
serious work and you must take it seriously, leave your ego at the door, teach the Truth by living the
Truth. Whatever you personally have to heal, see it healed now..." He gave his all and
all to the City of Angels Church of Religious Science. He
gave his money, his time and his devotion. He stated over and over
again that as ministers we must know that the work we are doing is the
Holy Spirit working through us. We must be willing to stand in the
Truth and know the Truth knows no opposition. He was once told that
if he took the word "church" out of the name of City of Angels
that more people would join. He emphatically told the ministerial
class that he wouldn't care if he had 10,000 people every Sunday and had
to put in balconies, he would not want it if it meant putting a "veil
over the truth." He stated that we
are the Church of Religious Science and that is the truth - and that is what
we are to teach and we must teach it as the Truth with zeal, enthusiasm,
power and love. He said we must put our heart and soul into it
because "lukewarm water will not boil eggs!"
Every
single person in his 5,000 member congregation always knew what he  stood
for and knew that his every decision was from the highest integrity and
love. He inspired, encouraged and inspired and encouraged again,
never giving up on knowing the Truth for anyone. The City of Angels
Church of Religious Science is an Independent Church, and for those who
knew Dr. O. C., it could not be any other way. In Aramaic, death
means transition or to be present somewhere else. I know that
wherever Dr. O. C. is now, he is fully present, alive and awake to the
Truth.
"Live
every moment like you think its your last, because someday you're
going to be right." - Dr. O. C. Smith
Thank
you Dr. O. C. for your presence in my life and the lives of so many
others. I celebrate with you, your Graduation and know that you
are touching that hem of the garment that each of us desires to touch
within our souls. God has blessed me through you and that is the
Truth and for that I am so very grateful. Thank you for instilling
in me the Love and the Joy that the teaching of Religious Science is for
you. Thank you, bless you and say hello to all the
Great Mystics that have gone ahead of you. If Jesus has a "Soul
Brother" he is Dr. O. C. Smith."
Click
here for complete Dr. O. C. Smith Interview with Patricia Nolan Stein.
Click
here for Dr. O. C. Smith Sunday Messages and Music
And So
It Is!
Letting Love use me
in Its own Good Way,
Rev.
Bates
S
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