Everyone is entitled to continuing growth in every avenue of his life. Not only can his health be better, if that is the need, but he can have a greater feeling of security, problems regarding his work can be solved, and his whole attitude toward others can be enlightened.
How, one may ask, can all this come about? The picture that the material senses present is of man as limited and vulnerable; and if one is content to let his thinking be based on matter and its attendant beliefs of birth, maturity, decay, and disease, his joys will be fleeting and his experiences frustrating indeed. It is only through the sincere study of Christian Science that one sees through this maze to the unreality of all matter. And as one accepts each day's challenges to progress in the study of the Science of Life, he finds himself growing in his ability to practice this Science. He finds the unfolding realization of the infinite nature of man made in the likeness of Spirit, God.
As a Christian Scientist works in this way, he proves that mortal mind, or matter, can make no conditions for him. While what is good in one's human life points to, or hints at, something that is divinely true, one need not be satisfied with only a hint, for whatever is divinely true can be humanly demonstrated. It requires only that the human senses be silenced so that the truth can appear in consciousness.
What kind of thinking is specifically needed to change a discordant material circumstance to an altogether satisfying one? The work necessary for uplifting and purifying relations in the home might serve as an example. Sometimes members of a family go their own ways with little or no thought for the others; often there is a lack of appreciation and understanding between parents and young people. Sometimes a family may be sincerely searching for the right answers, yet from a human standpoint. But this standpoint cannot satisfy, for there are times when it doesn't take much for a good human self, under changing circumstances, to become a discordant human self. It is never a mere human sense of goodness that meets one's need, but divine Love, God. Lack of enough love is the only reason for discord. This lack is at the base of all one's troubles, and the correction comes when one turns to Love. Then the truly satisfying answers flow into consciousness.
Christian Scientists know, whether they be parents or young people, that it is the presence and power of divine Love that must be held to if the members of the family are to express affection and unity toward one another. Each one must recognize the presence of the one Mind and claim it as his own.
Let each member of the family ask himself, "Am I putting God first? Am I really standing firmly for what I know is true? Am I really loving? Am I living in accordance with the teachings of Christian Science to the best of my ability, thinking from the standpoint of the divine Mind, not of a mortal mind? Is my love toward every member of my family as much in evidence as my love for myself, or am I perpetuating discord through a belief of a selfhood apart from God?"
Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, writes of what utter dedication to righteousness does: "Unselfish ambition, noble life-motives, and purity,—these constituents of thought, mingling, constitute individually and collectively true happiness, strength, and permanence."Science and Health, p. 58; It is by this persistence in the truth that one recognizes more fully his relationship to his human family through his understanding of his Father-Mother God. He sees why Christ Jesus could say, "The Son can do nothing of himself,"John 5:19; and further, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."14:10;
The relationship of Father and son, Mind and idea, pertains to everyone as it did to Jesus. As we let the Father, who is Mind, dwell in us, He doeth the works. Through the elevation, or purification, of one's concepts of his father and mother and each member of one's family, as well as of all human relationships, there comes a serenity and joy that can come in no other way.
With the appearing of divine Love to human consciousness, happy relationships develop and there is mutual affection and cooperation among all the members of the family. One begins to see something of his true identity and lets go of concepts and attitudes that no longer satisfy. This is the fruitage of true prayer; it is the turning to Love, to divine intelligence, for the light needed to go forward. This turning is described in No and Yes where Mrs. Eddy says, "True prayer is not asking God for love; it is learning to love, and to include all mankind in one affection."No and Yes, p. 39; And on the same page she continues: "Prayer begets an awakened desire to be and do good. It makes new and scientific discoveries of God, of His goodness and power. It shows us more clearly than we saw before, what we already have and are; and most of all, it shows us what God is. Advancing in this light, we reflect it."
Through this kind of prayer limitations of whatever sort will dissolve. Business difficulties will be seen in their true light, and a right solution will be reached. Adequate time for study and research will be found; human relationships will bring blessings and result in joyous, worthwhile social activities. Everything that may have made for strife or confusion or lack of satisfaction will be turned to blessing, giving one, instead of struggle, a feeling of security and of God's tender care for His own. In home relationships the family members will be lifted out of competition with one another, freed of apathy and thoughtless refusal to take over a fair share of the home duties. And Love will be seen as meeting every human need. Each member of the family will experience the purification which comes from placing oneself daily under God's government.
How plain it is that the more dedicated one becomes, the more fully he attains that stature of true manhood, that purification of thought, which brings healing and deep satisfaction! When one has something to handle that seems difficult, the results that come through this work may well be of benefit far outweighing the trial itself. For instance, one may be going along comfortably but not demanding the improvement of himself that he knows he is capable of when suddenly he has some digging to do. At such times it is as if Love is saying to him: "I will not let you be satisfied with mediocrity, with thinking that is less than inspired and regenerating. The demand on you is to go forward." Such demands never leave one where they found one, and this purification of consciousness necessarily elevates one's experience.
This is our divine right: to live even now so closely to our Father-Mother God that God's qualities—man's qualities by reflection—are made manifest in us. Man has divine intelligence, love and purity, peace and joy, dominion over all human experiences. All these are man's through his unity with his Father-Mother God.
How is dominion attained? How can freedom come about for us in every avenue of our lives? Mrs. Eddy tells us. She says, "Beloved, that which purifies the affections also strengthens them, removes fear, subdues sin, and endues with divine power; that which refines character at the same time humbles, exalts, and commands a man, and obedience gives him courage, devotion, and attainment."The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 131.
