Christian Scientists are enjoined to cultivate total awareness of spiritual verities in their demonstration of health, harmony, and well-being. Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health, "Become conscious for a single moment that Life and intelligence are purely spiritual,—neither in nor of matter,—and the body will then utter no complaints," Science and Health, p. 14; and again, "One moment of divine consciousness, or the spiritual understanding of Life and Love, is a foretaste of eternity." p. 598;
What a simple requirement for such wonderful promises! But lest we be deceived by the seeming simplicity, let us ask ourselves if thought has yielded up materiality in the acknowledgment of the presence of spiritual reality; if thought has disposed of all darkness in the acceptance of spiritual light; if thought has welcomed the gentle Christ. Reflecting the Mind that is God as the source of his natural and indeed his only legitimate activity, the individual discerns the Christ, Truth, and responds to the spiritual facts of being, which it brings to light. Paul said of this spiritual activity: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." I Cor. 2:9, 10;
A "moment of divine consciousness" can hardly be an instant of time sandwiched quickly between moments of negative, materialistic thought. That moment which combines inspiration and revelation results from prayerful communion with God, earnest seeking for the illumination of Spirit. It occurs most naturally in a faith-lighted journey Spiritward, and it could hardly be followed by anything but an advanced state of thought, where the view would always be more glorious because it would be more Christlike.
