In her Message to The Mother Church for 1900, Mary Baker Eddy states (p. 2), "The song of Christian Science is, 'Work— work—work—watch and pray.'" Here there can be no question as to the emphasis our Leader places upon the word "work." Important as it is for the Christian Scientist to be alert and to pray, in this passage Mrs. Eddy has repeated the word "work" three times. However, work in Christian Science is not laborious, and it is important to understand this if we would clearly understand our Leader's admonition. Because of the great care with which she selected each word of any written text, it is helpful to search for further enlightenment. Work, we are told by a dictionary, is the general term for purposive effort and is distinguished from labor, which commonly implies more wearisome and strenuous exertion. Thus it is helpful to see that in using the term "work" Mrs. Eddy lifts it above any sense of labor and wearisome struggle.
The purpose of our work in Christian Science, which is frequently known as Christian Science treatment, is not to change one iota of real being. It is simply to so illumine human consciousness that the true creation in all its perfection, beauty, and loveliness may be perceived in its spiritual completeness. Therefore, work in Christian Science is a metaphysical process. It is rightly conceiving all that appears in our experience. It is spiritual understanding, revealed by the Christ, Truth, which acts as an alterative in human consciousness, changing a belief in inharmony and discord to the apprehension of joyous freedom and dominion. It is the calm realization of God's allness and completeness and of man's spiritual perfection. The glad affirmation of God's eternal government of all is indeed "the song of Christian Science," for it results in infinite bliss, harmony, and peace.
There are times when the suggestion comes to the student that his work in Christian Science has become arduous and tiresome. He may have spent many weary hours struggling with some problem in his human experience. At such times it is helpful to remember that God is not battling— that God is! Yes, the one infinite Mind is the only Mind, and is supreme. Not for an instant is God doubting His own supremacy and dominion over all. No, God does not struggle; He commands. Sang the Psalmist (Ps. 46:6), "He uttered his voice, the earth melted."
