THERE is today a prevalent demand for standardization, which would conform everything to certain criterions. A student of Christian Science might perhaps at times become mesmerized by this world-wide tendency towards standardization. This might be disturbing to him because he thinks he is not able to keep pace with some so-called standard of living or of working, or, if he be a beginner, with what he regards as a standard of conduct set by an advanced worker, a standard to which he has not grown mentally and spiritually.
The wise student, undisturbed by such fears, knows that God is governing, and that individual advancement is in proportion to the bringing of his every thought into accord with God's great plan. He learns not to lean on human opinions and advice, which may be misleading but to trust God's ideas to guide him. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy writes (p.259), "The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,—perfect God and perfect man,—as the basis of thought and demonstration." Those who have caught a glimpse of this glorious fact have but one object, that of demonstrating it. In striving to do so, the student may make mistakes, and he therefore cannot set up his immature sense of right and wrong as a criterion for the behavior of others. A mere personal human standard is very apt to fail and lead to great disappointment. Mrs. Eddy has written in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (pp.233,234), "Thinking of person implies that one is not thinking of Principle." And striving to maintain another student's standard would necessitate thinking a good deal about person. The kingdom of heaven is not gained through imitation of another's views or actions; nor can it be taken by force; it comes to one's consciousness as thought expands to accept the Christ and thus find the one true standard. As God's ideas dawn in thought they guide, protect, and bless.
Isaiah expressed the truth that the awakening of thought to the things of Spirit must be entirely individual, when he wrote, "Ye shall be gathered one by one." Even what is called nature teaches us that the rose, the lily, the magnolia, the elm, all have their individual beauty and character.
