How often has the expression, "Be yourself!" uttered goodnaturedly but with no thought of its deeper implications, aroused one from a sense of pride, anger, or gloom, and healed a situation that might have led to friction and discord! Even this casual use of the expression is an admission that one has a better selfhood than the one that is seen in ill nature. But to the Christian Scientist, who knows something of spiritual identity, finding the real self means entertaining only the perfect ideas of divine Mind, and eliminating the erroneous suggestions that represent anything less than the image and likeness of God.
Christian Science reveals the perfection of man. Mortals may not readily grasp this fact, but when it is acknowledged and adhered to, the false representations of mortal mind begin to seem less real, and one finds that his understanding of his real spiritual selfhood is outwardly manifested in a healthier, happier, and more useful human living.
Could anything be more practical than this? In Christian Science we have a religion that meets our needs in the present state of our human development, reveals the true fact about every situation in which we may be involved, and provides definite rules for expressing more and more of our real selfhood, until the human shall have disappeared in the divine. True, the goal is perfection, and we may not reach it in a day. It may even seem at times as though we have fallen woefully short of what we think we should be able to demonstrate. When tempted to belittle our present achievements, let us remember that the selfhood we are condemning never existed in the reality of being, and that in accepting the suggestions of failure and futility we are merely building up a false sense of self that must eventually be overcome.
This does not mean that we should not condemn error in the abstract, and separate our individual thinking from it. Knowing the true self involves unknowing the false self, and the rejection of negative beliefs must accompany the positive affirmation of the truth, until the transformation of our consciousness is complete. Even a slight understanding of Christian Science reveals the debasing forms of materiality as no part of God's likeness; but "the little foxes" of human character, the seemingly harmless weaknesses, the faults disguised as virtues, frequently hinder the student's demonstration of Truth. Personal sense does not part easily with its preconceived opinions and prejudices, its false loves and ambitions. And honesty, humility, and alertness are qualities that cannot be too assiduously cultivated, if we would detect and erase from thought all that would becloud the true sense of man.
We cannot consistently claim for ourselves the perfect qualities of God's likeness and still see our fellow men as in reality sick, sinful, or hateful. Although the Christian Scientist does not work mentally to clear the vision of another, unless asked for help, his own demonstration requires the constant erasure from his thought of the false sense of man that is constantly being presented to him by mortals, individually and collectively. In doing this not only is he helping to lift the load of burdensome beliefs for others, but he frequently finds the solution of his own problems in some aspect of the truth he entertains.
Perhaps a small incident in the experience of a Christian Scientist will illustrate the value of keeping one's own thinking clear. In her profession this Christian Scientist became associated with another woman who seemed to direct much petty and unjust criticism toward her. On one occasion the pride of the Scientist arose, and she was tempted to express her resentment and break off the association. The temptation was silenced, however, and then came the realization that she had not been doing her part in keeping clear her own vision of the real man. Instead of regarding as real an irritating and eccentric mortal, she looked to the perfect man of God's creating, who is ever loving and lovable. From that day the woman's attitude toward her completely changed, and a very friendly relationship was established. The Christian Scientist was grateful for the healing, and several years later its significance became still clearer. At this time she was called upon to face a very difficult situation, and this friend's kindly interest provided an important link in the working out of the problem.
Such experiences, showing the continuity of the good we gain through right thinking, should encourage us to be ever alert to practice what we know of the truth, even in the smallest detail of our experience. What we call large problems and important crises represent human thinking in the numerous circumstances, associations, and activities of human affairs. Every right idea that we have ever assimilated and proved, is established to bless our present efforts, and to bring out of each experience a truer sense of selfhood. When we make the understanding of real being our first concern, we are always provided with the wisdom we most need, for as Mrs. Eddy has said on page 571 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," "Know thyself, and God will supply the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over evil."
Christian Science does not require a personal withdrawal from human associations, unless they are immoral. On the contrary, our study of the truth of being is practical only to the extent that we take the knowledge gained into the office, the schoolroom, the factory, the home. The reflection of true spiritual qualities is unfailingly attractive; and far from leading one to a life of gloomy asceticism, it brings into one's experience congenial friendships, enlarged opportunities, and wholesome pleasures. One cannot live unto himself alone, and it is natural to wish to establish friendly relationships with one's fellow men. This true friendliness does not develop an obsession to gain worldly popularity at all costs, even though it should lead one to compromise with false standards of conduct.
In the complexities of human relationships, how much humility and alertness are needed, if we would always express the qualities of the real man! To keep our thought separated from erroneous beliefs and glowing with love and compassion for our fellow men; to condemn error without criticizing persons; to shed a ray of spiritual light upon another's problems—surely this can be accomplished by nothing less than the constant, prayerful knowledge of the truth about man. And we do not always realize what far-reaching results such thinking may produce. Christian Scientists are deeply grateful for every opportunity of drawing others to the study of this Science. Oftentimes this is done through healing; but we should not neglect the inconspicuous, gentle persuasions of unselfed love.
Each moment calls upon us for a decision as to whether we shall express the real, permanent, and truly satisfying, or whether we shall be temporarily lulled into submission to the illusions and delusions of a false sense. Does life seem dull and drab, work monotonous, environment limited? Idle daydreaming and imaginative entertainment can offer but temporary distractions, while Truth reveals to the searching thought of the sincere student a means for the practical demonstration of joy, freedom, and dominion. Do material remedies seem easier to accept than the Christ-cure, self-will more effective than humility and obedience? Does a compromise with dishonesty seem essential to success? These are all base lies of the carnal mind, attempting to defraud us of the permanent right to health, happiness, and right activity.
The only true selfhood is the one God made. The real man is ever living at the standpoint of opportunity, reflecting unlimited intelligence, in full possession of "every good gift and every perfect gift." Real individuality has never been touched by any phase of sin, discord, or limitation; and each circumstance in human experience, however trivial, formidable, or agonizing, is but an opportunity for proving that real self.
