Article June 4, 1904 Issue

The Dream of Mortal Life

R. S. M.

Every Christian Scientist has learned that mortal existence is a dream. This was forcibly impressed upon me by a dream in which I seemed to be in a large building with many places for rest and sleep, but where there were such disturbing conditions that though I sought a quiet place I found none. From room to room I wandered, vainly seeking rest, but never for a moment being allowed to remain quiet long enough to fall asleep. The light of day finally seemed to break, and, still struggling to find a place of rest, I awoke, feeling the same desperate need of sleep that my dream evinced.

Almost at once I thought, This is mortal existence. I dream daily the disturbing conditions I seem to see around me, the pandemonium of sickness, sin, losses, failures, and every ill to which flesh is heir. In my dream, a long night of peaceful sleep had ended, yet the dream made it appear that I had not slept, that I had spent the whole night vainly searching for that which I could not find. Is it not thus always with the waking dream? Vainly we seek good but find it not because we look for it in the mortal, material things of this earth-dream. In reality we now possess in all fulness the things for which we seem vainly and vaguely to grope.

A story is told of a wealthy man, whom I will call Ah Haveit. The story, very much abridged, runs something like this: The man was rich in flocks, in herds, in money, in family ties, in respect, and honor; in all things that seem to make for comfort and happiness in this mortal life. One day a priest came, telling of a wonderful find of diamonds in a certain place. The rich man went to bed poor, for he had found discontent. He too must find diamonds. He sold his flocks and herds, and took his departure. He would not seek near home, he would go afar, and he spent all in his vain search, and was finally swallowed up by a tidal wave, a poor, outcast vagabond.

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