AFTER holding a position of trust with a large corporation for a good many years, a student of Christian Science suddenly found himself without employment, stripped of many of his worldly possessions, and faced with the necessity of making a new start in life. For a long time prior to this he had dreamed of a business of his own as affording a better outlet for original thought, uninterrupted activity, and increased usefulness, but, lulled by a false sense of security, he had been afraid to do more than dream.
Now, when a world depression made his years of experience appear to be worthless to others, with the door of opportunity seemingly closed against him, he turned unreservedly to Principle for guidance, refusing to accept the suggestion that his situation was hopeless and his future problematical; and with the courage born of spiritual resolve, he began to formulate plans for a modest business venture. Out of his new-found courage came the conviction that evil could not deprive him of the ever present opportunity of utilizing his knowledge of Truth in his own behalf. That ability meant being able to understand and reflect God, good, thus proving that true self-expression and opportunity are one.
At this time a member of his family, who had stood shoulder to shoulder with him during the crisis in his affairs, urged him to study prayerfully Mary Baker Eddy's remarkable answer to the question, "Has man fallen from a state of perfection?"onpages 78 and 79 of "Miscellaneous Writings," giving special attention to these thought-arresting sentences: "Man's origin and existence being in Him, man is the ultimatum of perfection, and by no means the medium of imperfection. Immortal man is the eternal idea of Truth, that cannot lapse into a mortal belief or error concerning himself and his origin: he cannot get out of the focal distance of infinity."
