Herbert E. Rieke, C.S.B., of
Indianapolis, Indiana
Member of the Board of Lectureship of The
Mother Church,
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts
The aims of modern education emphasize the importance of the whole individual. Intellectual development — important as it is — is not sufficient of itself to prepare the student for happy and successful living.
Christian Science teaches that in order to discover complete manhood or womanhood, one needs to understand the whole nature of God, the Supreme Being. Everyone is interested in the Supreme being, for the word "supreme" means unrestricted, and the word "being" means life or existence. Whether he knows it or not, everyone is interested in the Supreme Being for no one wants a limited, restricted sense of life. People are looking for a more expansive concept of existence.
Christian Science gives us a comprehensive definition of the nature of the Supreme Being. In the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discover and Founder of Christian Science, writes (p. 465): "God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love." She explains that these terms are intended to express the nature, essence, and wholeness of Deity.
Christian Science emphasizes, as taught in the first chapter of the Bible, that man is made in the image and likeness of God; therefore, the true spiritual man reflects the qualities implied in these seven synonymous terms; he reflects the wholeness of God's being. As we understand the true nature of God and let Him express all His divine qualities through our thinking and living, we begin to discover what true manhood and womanhood mean.
May I tell you of an experience I had as an Army Chaplain which illustrates how people intuitively see the importance of these seven terms for God. I announced, when visiting a convalescent ward in a hospital, that I was the new Chaplain on the base and had come to conduct an informal religious service. Immediately some of the men arose to leave the room. I asked one of them, "Sergeant, what is the most interesting subject in the world?" He smiled and answered facetiously, "Women, Chaplain." Everyone laughed,
I said, "Fine! That will be our subject today." No one left.
I started the discussion by asking what qualities they would like to see manifested in the girl they might select as a wife. The sergeant insisted that she be beautiful. The men discussed physical beauty until one soldier exclaimed "But physical beauty isn't everything. It's only skin deep. I don't want a wife who is beautiful but dumb.”
We then discussed the importance of intelligence. They agreed they wanted a wife who expressed Mind. I finally asked, "Suppose you met a girl who was an intellectual genius but hateful and mean — would you be interested'?" There was surprise on their faces. They were looking for a girl who expressed love, was compassionate, tolerant, forgiving.
Some thought the qualities of Mind and Love were sufficient until I said, "But suppose she did not express Truth, you couldn't trust her." This brought on a lively discussion. They all agreed they wanted a wife who would be true to them, who didn't lie.
"But suppose a girl did not express much life," I asked — "She was lazy, indifferent, never wanted to do anything, lacked enthusiasm; would you be interested?" I wish you could have heard the discussion on the importance of life. They wanted a girl who loved life and manifested a right sense of activity.
Finally one lad piped up, "Yes, Chaplain, but not too much life." He didn't want a wife who insisted upon running to nightclubs every night. He wanted someone who loved her home, beautiful music, good books, flowers in her garden, and most of all, children. A wonderful discussion followed regarding the importance of these deeper and substantial interests. "One word," I said, "points to these deeper spiritual interests — Soul." I asked them the difference between a popular song of the day, Pistol Packin' Mamma and Schubert's Unfinished Symphony. One soldier said the popular song had rhythm, but the symphony expressed soul. There was depth and form to it. It was beautiful, colorful, full of harmony. It inspired you to think on exalted things. Moreover, the symphony had an element of immortality, whereas the popular song would be dead and forgotten tomorrow. I asked whether they wanted a wife who expressed Soul, interest in the deeper, spiritual, beautiful, harmonious things of life. They agreed they did. They even preferred a girl who didn't smoke or drink.
We then talked about the importance of orderliness. They wanted a wife who was neat and orderly, not only in her personal appearance but also in the home. They saw the importance of keeping things in balance, especially the family budget. "In other words you want a girl who expresses Principle," I commented.
At this point I observed that the qualities we had been discussing had a spiritual source. I mentioned that Jesus said: "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing" (John 6:63). After a thorough discussion they agreed that these fundamental spiritual qualities were much more important than physical beauty. We saw that the things of Spirit are substantial, real, and eternal, whereas matter is insubstantial, temporal, fading.
"But Chaplain," a soldier asked, "where would one find a girl like this?"
I replied, "What kind of a husband would such a girl be looking for?"
They laughed and exclaimed, "Oh, oh here it comes!"
I continued, "She would be searching for a husband who expressed the same qualities." Then I added, "Now, you men thought we were talking about women, but we were really talking about the importance of expressing the nature of God". I quoted short passages from the Bible, indicating that God is Mind, Love, Truth, Life, Soul, Principle, and Spirit. I emphasized that as a girl lets God express these divine characteristics through her, she will be successful as a sweetheart, wife, and mother. If she fails to respond to these divine characteristics, she will be less successful. Also, as a man lets God express His whole nature through him he will be successful as an individual, husband, father, citizen, and soldier. He will know what it means to be a whole man made in the likeness of God. Henceforth I was never at a loss for a constructive subject to discuss with men in uniform.
Of course, the significance of these seven synonymous terms is far more comprehensive than has been brought out in this discussion, but the experience does emphasize the importance of these synonymous terms in finding man's complete, successful selfhood that reflects God.
To find true salvation which includes freedom from the limited sense of man as a mortal with his aches, pains, imperfections, unhappiness, disappointments, failures, we need to let God express His complete divine nature in our thinking and living. God is willing, able, and ready to express His perfection in us so that man in God's likeness might be evident; but we must be willing to let Him. That's really what prayer is — a spiritual letting process. In the Manual of The Mother Church, Mrs. Eddy gives a helpful and important Daily Prayer (p. 41): "'Thy kingdom come;' let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!"
As we let the government of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in our consciousness, God in His completeness eliminates from our experience not only sin, but also sickness, blemishes, unhappiness, limitations, and failures. Then we learn what it means to be saved, made safe from all evil.
Scientific prayer is necessary and practical in bringing about our complete freedom and salvation. May I use a simple illustration. Suppose you were a manufacturer whose product was coming off the assembly line with many imperfections. Would you be content to doctor up each imperfect product? Of course not!
You would go back to your designing room and recheck all plans and specifications. You would consult your engineering textbooks and apply correctly each rule and law of engineering. Then your product would come forth without flaw — needing no doctoring.
Now it is the same in our human experience. If we are not manifesting the health, harmony, happiness, and success we would like to express, we need to go back to the mental designing room of consciousness and reexamine God's plans and specifications for man. Here the Christian Scientist is helped by studying the two textbooks, the Bible and Science and Health, to comprehend the true nature of God and man in His likeness.
As we love, honor, and respect this true spiritual man found in the designing room of divine consciousness, and as we erase every erroneous concept of man, our affairs begin to run smoothly; we are well; and we are successful in our academic work and undertakings. On this point Mrs. Eddy says: "We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives. Let unselfishness, goodness, mercy, justice, health, holiness, love — the kingdom of heaven — reign within us, and sin, disease, and death will diminish until they finally disappear" (Science and Health, p. 248).
In Christian Science we learn we do not have to beg God to do something. He has already created the perfect spiritual universe including flawless individual man. These are already absolute realities in the one divine Mind. As we reverently turn to this Mind in prayer and acknowledge the reality of this perfect spiritual man, as we love and rejoice in this reality of being, we discover that imperfections drop away from our experience.
The last part of our Daily Prayer reads: "And may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!" (Manual, Article VIII, Section 4) It is not enough to find in the designing room of divine consciousness the true spiritual idea in regard to yourself. You must also find therein the true God-created idea of others in order to establish and maintain happy friendships.
The true man is never what human circumstances such as heredity and environment would cause him to be. Man is always what God, divine Principle, causes him to be, the perfect expression of all God's qualities. As we rejoice constantly that this is the truth of ourselves and others, we find every relationship increasingly harmonious, inspiring, and helpful.
There is a great variety of specific relationships — for instance, with your parents, your professors, your friends. Through Christian Science we see the importance of not outlining through human willpower just what our specific relationships shall be; but letting God do the specific relating and associating according to the operation of His divine law of wisdom. This saves us from disappointments, heartbreaks, and unhappiness.
There may come into your experience romance which leads to the relationship of marriage. Of course, you will be looking for a mate who reflects the qualities indicated by the seven synonymous terms for God, as the servicemen brought out in their discussion. But this is not enough. We must be sure we are letting God's law do the specific relating. Jesus said: "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matt. l9:6). When divine wisdom and love unite a husband and wife there is nothing that can separate them. Beware of mere human infatuations which lack the inspiration of wisdom and love.
The decision to marry is one of the most important you will ever make. Don't decide without sincere prayer. You need divine guidance in selecting the right mate. Be not in a hurry to marry. Make certain that you select the right companion that helps you in your desired destination. Mrs. Eddy says of marriage: "Consider its obligations, its responsibilities, its relations to your growth and to your influence on other lives" (Science and Health, p. 68). In the successful marriage one individual is never a drag on the other. Both husband and wife enhance each other's ability to express the highest in character and accomplishment.
May I say a few words about sex? Many people have distorted concepts of this subject. The word "sex" often suggests the thought of lust or disgust. But basically the word means the characteristics of being a man or a woman. If we think of man as just a male animal, and of woman as being a female animal, we drag the subject through the mud of sensual, materialistic, degrading, and often immoral thinking. But if we think of the real individual as the spiritual idea of God, expressing all the qualities of God, such as true masculine qualities of fearlessness, courage, and strength and true feminine qualities of tenderness and love, then we are lifting the subject above the materialistic connotations to discern the truth of manhood and womanhood.
In the chapter on marriage in the Christian Science textbook we read: "Union of the masculine and feminine qualities constitutes completeness. The masculine mind reaches a higher tone through certain elements of the feminine, while the feminine mind gains courage and strength through masculine qualities. These different elements conjoin naturally with each other, and their true harmony is in spiritual oneness" (ibid., p. 57). Here is the wholesome way to think of male and female. If you have not read this inspiring chapter on marriage, I would encourage you to study it soon and regularly. It will save you from the pitfalls of unhappiness and frustration which come from wrong thoughts about man and woman. It will help you to experience a successful marriage.
When discussing marriage the subject of children inevitably arises. If you are going to have delinquent youngsters as children, it might be better not to have them. But if you see your children as actually spiritual ideas born of God, born of Spirit, of Truth and Love, they can bring true satisfaction to you, joy to themselves, and a substantial contribution to society. It is important to recognize that in reality you are not the creator of children. God, the heavenly Father-Mother, is the source of their true spiritual identity.
Your future home, your family, your success in life is greatly influenced by your concepts of man, woman, children, and marriage. That is why it is essential to maintain the highest standards and ideals in all your social contacts. Illicit relationships outside of wedlock rob you and others of that higher concept of marriage which brings the greatest satisfaction, happiness, opportunity for accomplishment, and true successful living.
The same may be said of all false material pleasures. Smoking tobacco does not add to the spiritual stature of an individual; it detracts from it. The American Medical Journal refusing to accept advertisements for cigarettes and Italy legislating against such advertisements prove that the world is awakening to the fact that this habit of smoking is a danger to health. Christian Science is showing humanity how to be free from this enslaving habit. Man was given dominion over all the earth. He was not created to become a slave to unnatural appetites. It is God, Spirit, who brings us true relaxation, quiets tensions and anxieties, and brings real inspiration. When we use tobacco, drugs, and liquor as material substitutes, we rob ourselves of the true and lasting peace and satisfaction that come through scientific communion with God through prayer. Such prayer brings us an appreciation of the things of Spirit. We find the positive satisfaction of realizing man's unity with God. False appetites are not necessary. They're not even natural; the first cigarette one might smoke tastes terrible. Through mesmeric advertisements mankind has been sold a bad bill of goods. The suggestion of pleasure in false appetites is nullified as we gain an understanding of and a love for the uplifting things of Spirit.
A girl once asked a practitioner what harm there was in taking a cocktail. It was pointed out that there was real pleasure not only in being free yourself from the influence of alcohol, but also in setting a good example for others. At the next party the girl requested a soft drink. Later that evening a young man thanked her for her example. He said she gave him courage to refuse an intoxicant. As he had been having a struggle with alcoholism it was important that he should not indulge. He asked her if she could help him find his freedom. She promised to do so, telling him how Christian Science teaches that man is a spiritual idea who lives, moves, and has his being in God, infinite good. She showed further that when one understands that man is controlled by divine Principle, he is able to destroy the suggestions of the carnal mind that there is pleasure in matter and evil. He began an earnest study of our textbook. The girl prayed sincerely as taught in Christian Science, and the man soon found his complete freedom. The girl told the practitioner that through this experience she learned what real pleasure is — the ability not only to be free yourself, but also to help others to discover and maintain their freedom.
Let's talk about choosing a career. Some of you are asking how you can best serve humanity so as to support yourself and your future family. Christian Science emphasizes that we should consider how we can give the most rather than get the most. Jesus said, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom" (Luke 6:38).
Let us rejoice that there are infinite opportunities to be of service to others, and we, as God's ideas, have valuable talents. It is important that we be the round peg in the right round hole. Mrs. Eddy says in Retrospection and Introspection (p. 70), "Each individual must fill his own niche in time and eternity." Divine Mind has the perfect answer for the question how we can give the most. As we turn to God in prayer instead of trying to humanly outline our careers, as we pray, "Here I am, God, use me," He opens the way for us to fulfill our true purpose, whether in business, professional service, or as a homemaker.
When a sophomore in college I was confused about my career. I read books on occupational guidance, but became more confused. Then I began to pray earnestly. I turned to the Bible and the textbook for guidance. It became clear that just as a successful manufacturer does not put useless parts in his product, just so God does not create useless children. Divine Mind has a purpose and work for each of its ideas. I prayed that I might be aware of God's directions. Then one day it became very clear that I should serve humanity as a Christian Science practitioner. This was not just a youthful decision. I felt God had called me. Immediately my college studies became easier, more meaningful and inspiring, for I could see the significance of my university training.
After graduation I went into business for a period to repay the debts I had contracted for my education. I learned some valuable lessons. But my primary interest was in church and its activities. I served on committees and did everything possible to share the inspiration of our religion with others. Soon the opportunity arose to serve two afternoons a week in a practitioner's office. Before long I needed to devote full time to the practice. I have sincerely enjoyed serving as a practitioner.
Of course, I would not humanly outline that those of you who are Christian Scientists should all be practitioners. We need scientific Christians in business, government, the teaching profession — all walks of life. But I want to emphasize that there is a wonderful opportunity to serve humanity as a Christian Science practitioner.
May I say a few words about some of the qualities needed to be a successful practitioner. First you must have a genuine love for God and your fellow men, a sincere desire and willingness to be a good Samaritan. The textbook says: "If the Scientist reaches his patient through divine Love, the healing work will be accomplished at one visit, and the disease will vanish into its native nothingness like dew before the morning sunshine" (p. 365).
We are told Jesus was moved with compassion and then he did outstanding healing work. Most of humanity's problems come from a belief in the lack of love. It is the realization of the omnipotence and omnipresence of divine Love that heals.
One never enters the practice of Christian Science to make money. Such a motive would insure failure at the outset. One practices Christian Science to serve humanity. However, one can expect to be adequately compensated as he helps mankind to find true health, happiness, and success through the practical application of Christian Science.
The practitioner must also be spiritually minded. He must keep himself unspotted from materialistic concepts of existence. God as Spirit must be very real to him, for it is only through the power of Spirit that we can bring healing and regeneration to others.
It is the Christ, Truth, that saves mankind and destroys the works of the devil. It is the responsibility of the practitioner to bear witness to the Christ, Truth, so sincerely, lovingly, and effectively that discords disappear and are replaced with harmony, which comes about by one's realizing the omnipotence of God and His ever-present goodness.
The Christ is the true spiritual idea of being which Jesus so perfectly presented to the world through his life and teachings. Materialism does not save the world from sin and disease. It is the Christ, the spiritual idea which is the Saviour. Jesus said, speaking of the Christ, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:20). That ever-present spiritual Christ is here today to save all of us.
Jesus said it was expedient for him as a human personality to go away so that the Holy Comforter, or the "Spirit of truth," might come to the world. He foresaw the coming of the true Science of his teaching, for you know the word "science" means exact knowledge, or we might say the "Spirit of truth."
In 1866 this Science of Christianity was discovered by Mary Baker Eddy. She thoroughly applied the spiritual laws of God, or Love, as set forth in the Bible, and found that strict obedience to these laws enables one to heal the way the Master did. She not only healed but taught her students how to apply these divine laws.
A Christian minister, to be successful in his ministry, must love God and love and respect Jesus of Nazareth, the founder of Christianity. He must recognize that the coming of Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy that the Christ or Messiah would come to teach all men how to find complete salvation.
To demonstrate Christian Science, one must not only love and respect Christ Jesus, but also appreciate the fact that Christian Science is the "Spirit of truth," the "Holy Comforter," promised by the Master. He must also love and respect Mrs. Eddy and see in her discovery the fulfillment of the prophecy in the book of Revelation as to how the Comforter was to come to the world.
Let us consider the reasoning process of the natural sciences and Christian Science. In the former, physical phenomena are observed, and theories and laws are formulated to explain the phenomena. Such inductive reasoning is never absolute because one is never certain all the significant phenomena have been observed. As more basic observations are made, the theories must be altered. Great breakthroughs in human knowledge have also come about through deductive reasoning. A material hypothesis is accepted provisionally, deductions are made, and later, scientists discover that observed phenomena confirm the hypothesis.
In the practice of Christian Science we make great use of deductive reasoning. We begin with the spiritual fact of God's being. The first words in the Bible read, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen. 1:1). David was inspired to start his twenty-third Psalm as follows: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Ps. 23:1). The Lord's Prayer commences, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." We accept reverently the eternal truth of one absolute, benevolent God, cause, and creator. We reason logically from this spiritual basis that since God, the divine Principle, or cause, is perfect, His creation, the effect of His creative power, must be perfect. A competent manufacturer would turn out a good product. Since God and His whole true spiritual creation are perfect, each individual manifestation must be perfect. Thus we conclude that the true spiritual man is perfect even as the Father in heaven is perfect. It also follows logically that all imperfections, such as sin, disease, and death, must be the result of false conclusions from false premises. Evil is a lie about the perfect God and His perfect spiritual creation, a lie to be denounced and erased from consciousness.
As we reason in this inspired spiritual manner with absolute convictions — no doubts — the seeming material imperfections progressively disappear from our experience. This result then verifies our original proposition that there is a perfect spiritual universe including perfect individual man. And the most wonderful thing about Christian Science is that it's not just a fine abstract theory. It works. You can demonstrate its verity. Imperfections are eliminated from your experience. These spiritual proofs convince you of the reality of the divine Principle, God. You cannot prove the existence of God, Spirit, by observing material phenomena. But you can be convinced of His existence by observing the spiritual blessings that come into your experience as the result of obedience to His spiritual laws. Here is the true inductive reasoning from spiritual evidence that does not make skeptics of us, but gives us that absolute faith in God which enables us to solve human problems.
Let us apply such reasoning to academic work. We begin by recognizing there is one perfect divine Mind which manifests itself in a universe of intelligent ideas; for a mind without ideas would be no mind, and ideas without a mind to think them would be inconceivable. Since divine Mind including its full expression is perfect, each individual manifestation must be perfect. The true man reflects all the faculties of Mind, such as keen perception, good comprehension, accurate memory or retentiveness, and perfect ability of expression. Any other conclusion about man is a lie you need vigorously to reject.
As you understand man's relationship to the one divine Mind, as you see man as the infinite expression of infinite intelligence, you develop a keen interest in all your academic studies; you find that your intellectual curiosity is sharpened and guided into constructive channels. You begin to discern your own needs and the needs of the world. Keen perception is vital for intellectual growth. It is not just the ability to see print in books and figures on the blackboard, or to hear what the professors say. True perception includes insight, the faculty to look beyond appearances to see the deeper implications. We develop this ability as we learn to discern absolute spiritual reality,
True perception leads naturally to comprehension. A tape recorder could accurately take down a professor's lecture, but there would be no comprehension. For true education you need to make the facts your own by comprehending them. Right where man is and everywhere, God, the divine Mind, is present manifesting Himself in perfect perception and comprehension. As we realize man's inseparability from the one infinite Mind, we manifest greater acuteness and comprehensiveness. We understand what it's all about. We learn to assimilate and coordinate knowledge. Then we can make good use of it. Emphasizing the importance of comprehension, Jesus said: "Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do you not remember?" (Mark 8:18)
When you truly perceive and thoroughly understand a subject, it is in consciousness; and you can bring forth the facts in expression during daily recitations and in examinations. Sometimes individuals think they don't have accurate memories; but memory is just the effect of keen perception and good comprehension. In the textbook we read: "If delusion says, 'I have lost my memory,' contradict it. No faculty of Mind is lost" (ibid., p. 407). The divine Mind is ever-present manifesting the spiritual faculties of perception, comprehension, immortal memory, and expression. The result is the true spiritual man, the perfect radiation of infinite Mind.
The whole of learning is for the purpose of expression, not just the manifestation of intelligence during examination but in all your affairs. College training is a wonderful opportunity to silence the arguments of ignorance and prove the truth that man is the perfect expression of Mind.
In the textbook we read: "Man is the expression of God's being" (p. 470.). As brought out earlier in the lecture, man expresses not only the intelligence of Mind, but also the beauty and harmony of Soul, the substance of Spirit, the orderliness of Principle, the integrity of Truth, the vivacity of Life, the tenderness of Love. The organist who plays on one manual and with one set of stops, does not produce music comparable to the one who makes the proper use of all manuals and stops. We need to let God express in us all His divine qualities to bring out the infinite beauty, harmony, and capacity of man.
This is a real challenge. Christian Science does not present a way to find health, happiness, and success in six easy lessons. There are great problems in the world crying for solutions — problems of individual character, social, racial, educational, economic, religious, and political problems. We do not run away from such individual or collective problems. We face them squarely and apply God's laws to the solution of these problems, just as an engineer applies engineering laws to the solution of his problems.
It required divine courage and strength for Jesus to let the mob crucify him while he quietly applied the spiritual laws of Life and Love to prove by his resurrection that evil couldn't kill the message of the Christ or the messenger who was so gloriously preaching the gospel.
It takes real spiritual courage for the Christian Scientist to say "no," when the world would try to persuade him to give up his spiritual ideals and smoke, drink, and indulge in sensual pleasures. It takes what you've got to be the child of Truth and not cheat in examinations. It's a real challenge to cling steadfastly to God and His idea of perfect man when faced with a material picture of serious illness or great tragedy. It takes courage to continue to pray scientifically and to see the situation through to a harmonious solution.
The practice of Christian Science presents a real challenge. But let's remember Christian Science is not hard to understand and apply. When I was in college I had an important examination to take; and although I had studied diligently, I was afraid of failing. A Christian Science practitioner explained that God, the all-knowing Mind, knows all that is true. He quoted from the textbook: "Immortal Mind, governing all, must be acknowledged as supreme in the physical realm, so-called, as well as in the spiritual" (p. 427). He brought out that this infinite Mind is the only Mind and man's Mind by reflection. It therefore followed that I would be inspired to think clearly and answer intelligently. Lastly, I would find the examination to be easy. Up until that time, I thought it would be hard. Now I realized that nothing is hard to divine intelligence and that man is forever at one with the all-knowing Mind. The fear disappeared, and I passed with a high grade.
This experience taught me a valuable lesson. Whenever problems are presented to me, I rejoice that the all-knowing Mind knows the perfect solution. Since this Mind is the only Mind, I can be inspired to know the correct answer. Lastly, the solution is easy. When the ease of operation of divine Principle is recognized, the disease, uneasiness, fear, tension, and frustration disappear.
Many individuals go through life thinking of everything as difficult. Because they think that way, so it seems. Jesus said: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me. . . For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:29,30). What was his yoke, but the way he thought, prayed, lived, and worked? He said, "It's easy." It's a challenge, but it's easier than the hard way of ignorance, sin, and fear.
A teacher asked a little boy why he told the truth. He replied, "That's easiest. Then you don't have to remember what you've said." When problems have come to me I have found it much easier to turn to eternal Truth as taught in our textbook, than to become involved in merely human ways of trying to solve problems. In the textbook we read: "Whoever would demonstrate the healing of Christian Science must abide strictly by its rules, heed every statement, and advance from the rudiments laid down. There is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way is pointed out; but self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life" (p. 462).
Christian Science is simple, although it may be quite different from the way you have thought, reasoned, and prayed. As we persistently reason from the basis of perfect God to the conclusion of perfect universe and man, as we deny everything inconsistent with God and His infinite goodness, this scientific way of praying becomes natural and we readily solve human problems.
I have pointed out that in order to experience true successful living in college and after graduation, we must let God express His divine characteristics through us that we may be whole men and women. We have discussed how through prayer we can find true individuality, happy friendships, a satisfying marriage, and successful careers. We've touched on the importance of reasoning from the basis of God, divine Principle, rather than from material sense testimony. We have noted how this can help us in all our relationships, academics, and careers. Lastly, we have seen that the application of the Science of Life is simple although it requires self-sacrifice, honesty, Christianity, and persistence to demonstrate the Truth effectively so as to manifest true successful living.
[Delivered circa 1962-1967.]