At one time home to the writer was a beautiful spot near a certain mountain, which continually promised a glimpse of the far-away and a vision of magnificence to those who would climb to its peak. How often she recalls the mental struggles at the foot of that mountain on hot summer afternoons! It was known that the hotter the day the more brilliant would be the sunset picture; that from the summit miles of mountainous country might be seen, valleys filled with delicately colored gauzelike evening mist, and distant peaks regal in robes of purple; that the path through the ocean out to the sun would be one of gold, bordered with brilliant colors and canopied with rainbow-tinted clouds. Yet, in spite of all this lovely promise there would be the daily battle, since the sun beat down defiantly, prophesying that activity was impossible in its heat; that the path to the top was narrow, hedged on either side with dry, dusty sagebrush, often shoulder high, and that beneath would be burning sand and rocks, and here and there might be heard the warning of a rattlesnake, which might even be found stretched across the path. "It is not worth it," murmured the voice of false peace. "But surely you will not forego the vision of the sunset," pleaded the other voice.
Many times since coming into the haven of Christian Science the writer has found these old mental struggles helpful to contemplate. In looking back, the only hard thing she can recall in connection with the mountain climb was the battle of indecision in the valley. And what a foolish, phantomlike battle it was! There is no memory of a single instance of weariness, or of being too hot or bothered by the stones, or of snakes along the way, or of the sagebrush ever reaching over the head. Rather, it is recalled how eagerly we pressed on; how light became our feet as the peak came nearer and nearer, until, sometimes lifted up by the buoyancy of expectancy, we found ourselves fairly speeding along, growing more light-hearted each step of the way.
How many times the writer has stood in the valley of indecision in her journey in Christian Science! Before her some seemingly great problem has presented itself to be solved. Past experience has never failed to show that the vision of God, of Life, of Truth, of Love, is always glorious. Even in the valley it can be foreseen that beyond the problem stands a new view of infinity and eternity, which will be finer and clearer and more beautiful than any gained before. Yet error stands and argues loudly: "Why not postpone the decision until some later, better time? Why face to-day the heat of the world's criticism and scorn? There will be hard tasks to be done; perhaps burning sand, and rocks, and sagebrush, and even snakes in the path,—why sacrifice the seeming comforts and pleasures and ease and worldly opportunities of the present for just one more revelation of Truth?"
