When those faithful, sorrowing women—Mary Magdalene, Salome, and the mother of James—went to the sepulcher at dawn, their purpose was to anoint the crucified body of Jesus with spices they had bought. When they entered the rock-hewn tomb, Mark tells us: "They saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here." Mark 16:5, 6; The women had come to anoint a dead body; they were, one might say, on the side of grief and death. But the angelic messenger was on the side of glory, triumph, and immortality.
When human belief presents its vivid pictures of sin, disease, and death, on which side do we stand? Is the telling weight of thought on the side of fear, morbidity, rebellion? Perhaps momentarily we might be overwhelmed by such aggressive pictures; but as Christian Scientists we need to rise up quickly and establish our standpoint of consideration on the divine side. We need to bear unfaltering witness to the reality of God as Life, and identify man as the ageless, sinless, deathless reflection of that divine Life. This is the spiritual and right side, the side of consolation, inspiration, and joy, the standpoint from which it is possible to behold and demonstrate immortality. As Mrs. Eddy writes, "Mortal mind accepts the erroneous, material conception of life and joy, but the true idea is gained from the immortal side." Science and Health, p. 536;
Shortly after I became interested in Christian Science, a growth appeared on one of my wrists and gradually increased in size until it was apparent to others. I had learned enough of this Science of Christianity to realize I could safely rely upon it for healing. One day I went into a Christian Science Reading Room and asked the librarian if she could suggest a line of specific study and thought that would be helpful in dealing with the situation.
