THE word "practice" is defined by Webster in part as follows: "To perform certain acts often or customarily in order to acquire proficiency or skill." With that definition in thought, every circumstance in the day of a Christian Scientist is seen to be an opportunity to perform the act of scientific knowing, to the end that spiritual proficiency may be gained. We were taught as children that "practice makes perfect." In a greater sense than we then knew is this true. Through practice in beholding man as the expression of infinite Spirit, our concept will become perfected. The student who, through constant practice, has thus gained some measure of proficiency in replacing the mortal sense of man with the immortal truth of man, and is using this ability for the aid of others, is called a practitioner.
What is the relation of practitioner to so-called patient? On a very dark and cloudy day we may go to the window to get a better light on our work. In like manner, when the clouds of a problem loom dark about us, we may find it wise to turn to one whose consciousness can reflect the light of Truth more clearly than can our own thought at the moment. This coming of one who needs light to another whose consciousness is reflecting divine light, symbolizes the relationship between patient and practitioner.
From the very start the patient must begin to be, in however slight a measure, a practitioner. The problem to be worked out, be it moral, physical, or financial, will doubtless be more quickly solved if the patient is cooperating whole-heartedly with his helper. The patient in so cooperating has an opportunity to practice many qualities of divine Mind, and many also of those transitional moral attributes which tend toward divine Mind. An important quality is obedience; and one of the ways in which obedience needs to be exercised is in willingly turning from contemplation of the problem, including its past, present, and future aspects. This leaves consciousness free for intelligent spiritual thinking, and open to that joyous expectancy which is an invaluable aid in human experience.
