It sometimes takes a complete getting away from one's accustomed surroundings to give one a fuller realization of what the study of Christian Science means. Lately, during a journey by land and water, I have seen more fully the advantage of an understanding of an omnipotent and omnipresent God. The ability to replace false suggestions of delay, cold, epidemic, quarantine, et cetera, with the truth, was a constant cause for gratitude and rejoicing. The value of a "God at hand" was forcibly shown when colds were going the rounds among the passengers on board ship. The suggestion of sore throat came to me, but almost at once disappeared. Two nights later I went with a fellow passenger to the ship's doctor for medicine for the same sort of cold and heard him tell her she would have to wait until morning. Such a wave of gratitude went over me for the quick release I had experienced because of knowing the omnipresence of health; and I could not refrain from comparing that human physician, who refused aid because his day's work was supposed to be done, with the one Healer, who is always available.
I had been a medical nurse for years before beginning the study of Christian Science, and I did not come into it for any apparent reason; but since beginning the reading of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy I have taken no medicine and have had plenty of proof as to the efficacy of Principle applied to one's problems. I have been particularly joyous over the constructiveness of Christian Science, no matter in what situation it is applied. If the result of the mental work done is not constructive, it is no longer Christian Science, and one may always put that test to his work. Bad habits may be done away with, disease cured, error of every sort eliminated, but not one degree of harm can result if one's prayers are not "amiss," because "he" or "she" does not enter into the question—the impersonal error is all that is replaced by the equally impersonal perfect "idea" of God's creating. I must express my gratitude for the periodicals, especially The Christian Science Monitor, the reading of which enables me to talk on current events in a way I never could before, because of the truth of its news which makes me feel sure of my conversation on whatever subject is under discussion. The reading of it is in itself an education, and inculcates in one great levelheadedness in forming opinions whether of people, events, or governments.
It is easy to be seen that Christian Science is an ever ready aid in any problem that confronts us, and it is a comfort to know that because it is of God it is everlasting.— Palo Alto, Calif.
