One inevitable result of the study and application of Christian Science is the purifying of human character. Indeed, if this is not happening, it would be wise to examine the depths of one's dedication. Purification involves change, and change often promotes mental upheaval—sometimes leaving regret in its wake that the process was not effected with less turmoil. Mrs. Eddy writes: "God is a consuming fire. He separates the dross from the gold, purifies the human character, through the furnace of affliction. Those who bear fruit He purgeth, that they may bear more fruit." Miscellaneous Writings, p. 151;
People may find themselves with uncomfortable memories, things they would much rather forget. Remorse, regret, tragic memories, can be handled effectively and harmoniously in Christian Science. In the process of refining metal no one would think of preserving the dross; the impurity is always discarded. Similarly, in the process of purifying the human character we need not hold on to those many guises of personal sense that often come to the surface to be self-seen and destroyed in times of mental chemicalization.
The deep desire for progress may disturb one's habitual patterns of thought, and one could well find himself in the middle of agitated circumstances. However, to claim the resultant blessings, we need only treasure the revealed good and see the mistakes and misapprehensions about ourselves and others for what they are—impersonal evil that would have to get a hold in consciousness in order to have any identity or any influence.
