OUR revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has given us this inspired statement in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 258): "God expresses in man the infinite idea forever developing itself, broadening and rising higher and higher from a boundless basis." This eternal development of good is a joyous, painless process. In its common application to property, the word "development" denotes the bringing into active use of something which has been lying idle; bringing to a higher state of utility or beauty that which has been neglected.
To many people the thought of character development, the overcoming of evil tendencies, which seem to be inherited or due to environment, conveys a feeling of drudgery, labor, or struggle. But as the student of Christian Science learns something of what, "God expresses in man," his sense of values changes and he is able to discount the trials and rejoice in progress Christward. Thought is elevated above material hopes and aims; faith properly rests in Truth. We learn to exercise those Godlike qualities which man, in His image and likeness, has always possessed; then the opposite undesirable traits disappear from lack of use.
Everyone wants this desirable thing termed true character. To find that good is ours by divine right, because good is what God expresses through man, is very satisfying. The sense of harmony is a grace which adds beauty to our lives. Spiritual grace adds peace, poise, and calm, so essential in successful contact with others. Through spiritual grace, one partakes of that divine favor or influence which gives beauty to the simplest speech and action. Because this is true from the spiritual standpoint, we may think our human progress suffers by comparison. We seem to fall short of our ideals and are confronted with disappointment and discouragement. Trials seem real and painful. False traits are distasteful, but seem unavoidable. The exercise of good qualities seems irksome, perhaps unrewarded.
