Young people and those just beginning the study of Christian Science may be grateful and willing to acknowledge the efficacy of God's healing power when physical discomforts have been terminated, but they may feel that to begin to put into practice all the truths taught in Christian Science will cause them to walk a restricted, narrow path, one that will perhaps cause them to lose their present companions. Standing firm and abiding by the rules learned in the study of Christian Science may seem difficult because of the human desire to be loved, to be considered a good sport, or possibly because of the fear of being ridiculed or of being left out of social gatherings which from the point of view of the individual it seems necessary that he attend.
Why give up material ways? Why turn from the material path, which appears to be so broad and inviting? Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 326), "If we wish to follow Christ, Truth, it must be in the way of God's appointing." God knows our need long before we are aware of it, and He supplies it. Trusting in God is an adventure that leads to true happiness.
Gaining the right concept of man and his relationship to God is not giving up anything good. Acquiring a sense of harmony and of real happiness is not giving up anything good. Learning to accept the abundance that is of God is not losing anything good. Paul told the Colossians (2:10), "Ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." This being true, real happiness, including right companionship, depends upon our knowing more of God and of man's relationship to Him, and not upon person, as is so generally believed. Right companionship is found when thought is uplifted to the oneness, or unity, of God and His ideas. Having always the comfort and peace found in knowing God, we have all we could ever desire, and we see those whose desires coincide with ours brought into our human experience.
