Article August 15, 1936 Issue

Why Choose the Hard Way?

[Written Especially for Young People]

E. OLIVE DAVIS

The statement is frequently made that we all have to learn from our own experience, and that such learning is often better than what we learn from others. This argument is many times advanced by young Christian Scientists when their older friends are endeavoring to offer counsel which seems to them contrary to their cherished plans and desires.

While there is some truth in the assertion, and we can all accept it in some measure, like many another commonly accepted dictum, it is not true in all its implications, as a moment's consideration quickly shows us. No human being could possibly learn the lessons of life purely on the basis of his own experiences, however much he might wish to do so. Our civilization is the outgrowth, the product, of all that has gone before us. There are few of us, to take a concrete example, who would wish to discard the fruit of the experience of a great inventor like Edison, and set ourselves to the problem of finding illumination in whatever primitive way we could work out for ourselves. So with all modern conveniences. We are enjoying the benefits of the experiences and struggles of the generations which preceded ours, and we accept this as the natural and intelligent thing to do.

Nor is this point of view limited to the realm of material inventions, in regard to which we freely take advantage of the progress of all the ages. Let us take the case of the young athlete who wishes to become an expert swimmer. Does he disdain the help of others in acquiring skill? Not at all! He selects a coach—that is, someone whose proved excellence in swimming is admitted—to give him the benefit of all his instructor has learned in his effort to become a fine swimmer. He watches his teacher's strokes; he tries to imitate them. He practices patiently day after day, always comparing his growing skill with that of his coach. And even when he has attained some mastery for himself, and perhaps some recognition from others, he is still constantly striving to learn through others how to better his form.

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In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures"...
August 15, 1936
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