MANY of us have watched with delight the sparkling mountain stream as it leaps over rocks and surmounts obstacles that would impede its progress, singing melodiously as its waters wind their way onward. No stagnation or sluggishness here! Gathering momentum and power, the stream admits of no interference as it hastens on its way. How significant a picture such a mountain stream presents of our lives as they are cleansed and purified by the healing touch of Christian Science! Heavy eyes and dull ears are opened by the inflow of the spiritual truths about God and man's relation to Him. Those who formerly were indifferent to or evaded all loving labor in behalf of their fellow men are ready to press forward. They are willing and eager to help their comrades and share with them something of the joy and inspiration which have transformed their own lives into songs of praise and deeds of usefulness.
When one student of Christian Science first became a member of a Christian Science branch church, she found herself reluctant to accept her share of its activities. Because of her inexperience she felt that she was not so well fitted as were others to perform this work. At length, however, she became willing to teach in the Sunday school. As she constantly turned to God, divine intelligence, for guidance, the work unfolded helpfully and harmoniously and she realized she was gaining her freedom from fear and timidity, self-condemnation, inaction, and all the false arguments which had arisen to prevent her progress Spiritward. This service opened up further fields of useful endeavor, not only in church activity, but in the healing work, and she rejoiced in discovering that in her obedient serving, the work was becoming dearer to her. She began to sing as she went about her duties and to keep a grateful heart—with the inevitable result that more freedom and joy were manifested in every detail of her daily living.
It is right that we should experience a deep and abiding happiness while laboring for the good of mankind. God's work is necessarily gladsome and carries with it its own rich remuneration in spiritual satisfaction and blessedness. In the Manual of The Mother Church (pp. 44, 45) Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, has written, "God requires our whole heart, and He supplies within the wide channels of The Mother Church dutiful and sufficient occupation for all its members."
