THE thought of home has often been an inspiration to those wandering on the world's highway. What pleasant pictures it recalls of affection, warmth, comfort, and happy associations! As the horizon of human experience seems to stretch out toward some undiscovered country, human thought continually turns back to a restful dwelling place which men call home.
But with the advent of Christian Science comes a new and more spiritual desire for happiness and rest—a desire that reaches out beyond the world, and is consequently beyond the world's ability to still. Perhaps a long-cherished family center, around which cluster many joyous memories, has been scattered by seeming adversity, or swept aside by what men call the irony of fate; perhaps a younger member has embarked on his initial adventure into an unknown country; or perhaps a wider responsibility has uprooted a contented Christian Scientist from a happy group of coworkers and bidden him take up another branch of work with which he is unfamiliar. Such instances as these may seem to entail a change, and consequently need the application of scientific demonstration before a higher idea of home is attained.
Or, again, take the case of one who is a stranger to Christian Science, one who has been dwelling in a material sense of complacency and self-satisfaction, surrounded by every material accessory which seemed essential to his happiness. Suddenly through some circumstance these pleasures are withdrawn, and he finds himself stripped of the gay associations which made the world seem to him such an attractive place. What is there to give him back the home and the happiness which appear to be slipping from his grasp? In which direction may he look for succor? To whose assistance should he turn for help? He flits from this person to that, from this doctrine to that, but without satisfaction—often without relief. At length, in fear of losing all, he cries out to God with a whole-hearted desire for relief. He prays to be led to the true God, to the God who is Love, who is Truth, who is Life, to the God who can be of practical help in his great and immediate need.
