Some First Lessons

WITH what joyous expectancy the average normal child looks forward to his first days of school! How happily he strives to learn the simple facts and rules put before him, and how confidently he applies himself to the problems given by his teacher, whereby he is to prove the rules already mastered! Can we not find in this happy, serene, and confident obedience of the little child a quality necessary to our own success in meeting life's problems? Is it not the key by which one enters the blessed kingdom of reality and harmony and finds the very "secret place of the most High"? In one of the classes of younger children in Sunday school the teacher asked, "If we are to be good, true Christian Scientists, what must we learn, first of all?" "To obey God," was the reply of the youngest pupil. "What does it mean to obey God?" "It means to trust Him all the time, in every place, for everything," was the prompt answer.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, devoted her life to proving and demonstrating the truth revealed to her. She has given to the world, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the result of the revelation and demonstration in a form any one can understand. On page 462 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says: "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." Are these statements cause for discouragement and lagging zeal? Rather are they cause for rejoicing in the vast infinitude of good to be made one's own. The first grade pupil who, looking with awe and bewilderment into a college textbook, refused to work out his own simple problems, would certainly never progress far.

Not one thing more is demanded of the individual than he is able to fulfill. One must learn and prove the fundamentals of mathematics before he advances to more complex problems. Our Leader herself tells us many times, in varied ways, that one must demonstrate or prove the truth, step by step. "To stop eating, drinking, or being clothed materially before the spiritual facts of existence are gained step by step, is not legitimate" (Science and Health, p. 254). To prove the power and presence of divine Principle, in what the world might call a small way, is having a part in the establishment of Christ's kingdom, just as surely as if one were doing what the world might term greater things. Every good thought, word, and deed is potent with Christ, Truth, and aids in the healing work. One can prove the truth that he at present understands. The thing any one can do is to obey God, in acknowledging Him as the one God and only power. This turning to God in simple, childlike confidence, is, to the human thought, as a light suddenly flashed on in a room which has been dark. Just as the light reveals all the dust and disorder, so Truth reveals false concepts and material thoughts. The individual must take, one by one, his false concepts of God and life and man, apply his rule, and lo! he finds beauty and harmony, joy and infinite possibilities, where human, mortal, or carnal mind had said there were only ugliness, hopelessness, and limited opportunity. Who could find such a task toilsome? What could be more joyful?