UNDERSTANDING

It is the duty of every one to live up to his highest understanding of Good. A Christian Scientist, by studying the Science of Being, finds this understanding to be higher, clearer, and broader every day; so the inevitable demand for a better life follows. The understanding can come only by a careful study of the Science of Mind, the laws of God, as expressed in His universe. There is no science of matter. Material knowledge is but an investigation of shadowy things based upon a supposition (which supposition has never been proven), and these theories arranged, classified, and put into operation by a so-called material law.

The more evil is analyzed and dissected, the more its nothingness appears; it is elusive and illusive, fleeing before the light of Truth. On the other hand, the more Good is investigated the more its somethingness becomes apparent, for it is the only Substance there is.

The understanding and demonstration of Good can only come to one who is honestly endeavoring to lift his thought above matter and its laws, and learn its opposite. Hence, Jesus' metaphysical statement, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God,"—blessed are the pure in thought, believing in but one power, even Spirit, for they shall discern the Principle of Goodness.

Man reflects and expresses God, and this is done in pure thoughts, kind words, good deeds. There is no reflective power to matter or evil.

The ideal man, by reflection, expresses God in every detail. Jesus knew this when he told Philip, "He that hath seen me hath seen the father," or as "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker G. Eddy, says, "Mind, which must be understood through the idea which expresses it." We find God only as we find our real selves, and regain our individuality, which seems lost in materialism. As Jesus said, "He that hath the Son hath Life."

Probably one of the greatest mistakes of orthodoxy is that we are saved by Jesus' death. We are saved, not because Jesus died for us, but because he lived for us. Christian Scientists are preaching, and endeavoring to live a religion of life, not of death, for Life is God, and is never found in or of matter.

Now this understanding must not only be gained, but utilized. A schoolmaster has a class of three boys in mathematics, all having supposedly the same understanding of the subject. He bids one go to the blackboard and work out a problem. The boy, through either a sense of fear or diffidence, fails, and makes three errors in his work. He has utilized but a limited amount of his understanding of mathematics. The second boy does a little better, and makes but two errors. The third boy makes a still better demonstration and has but one error. But not one of them has worked out the problem.

Then the schoolmaster, with a perfect knowledge of the subject, and utilizing this understanding, goes to the blackboard and works out the solution. Each one of his scholars could have done this, for they knew how, but failed to utilize, put into practice, what they knew. Science and Health says, "In order to apprehend more, we must put into practice what we already know," and "The one unused talent decays and is lost."

None of us live up to our opportunities. If we did, we would be paragons of Scientific demonstration. We should understand, lay hold upon, and utilize the divine energies so that Good would be working through us in every fibre and avenue of our being. Our patients would be healed more quickly, more love would be seen and felt, and the millennium hastened.

It remains with us. We alone must do it. Let us all examine and ask ourselves the all-important question, "Am I living up to my highest understanding of Good?" and if not, the fault lies within. As the poet says,—

The lives which seem so poor, so low,
The hearts which are so cramped and dull,
The baffled hopes, the impulse slow,
Thou takest, touchest all, and lo!
They blossom to the beautiful.

Susan Coolidge.