Mrs. Eddy writes: "The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace. Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress" (Science and Health, p. 506).
When first the Christ-idea dawns in human consciousness, the wonder and beauty of the new awakening seem often to overshadow the fact that however beautiful and inspiring is this first revelation of the light divine, it is nevertheless but a promise of the full orbed realization, which will unfold daily and hourly to the understanding in proportion as the student honestly and persistently strives to reflect on his daily path the light, of Truth, in so far as he apprehends it. Failure to recognize the necessity for steady, painstaking progress oftentimes results in discouragement and despondency.
On page 485 of Science and Health our Leader, with that surpassing wisdom so characteristic of all her teaching, counsels gentle emergence "from matter into Spirit." This in no wise indicates stagnation; rather does it mean calm, continuous effort, buoyant with hope yet content to wait patiently upon divine Love. There should be on the part of every student of Christian Science that confident holding fast and pressing forward which is possible only when we trust wholly to infinite Love and wisdom, knowing that although we have our part in the working out of our own salvation, nevertheless it is God that worketh in us "both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
