Article July 29, 1916 ISSUE

The Practical and the Ideal

SADIE KIEKINTVELD

Practical views of life and the ideal have long been considered irreconcilable, and the dreamer and idealist often has faith in humanity sadly shaken; but to spend time bemoaning one's disappointments is a narrow and selfish course of action. Often the cause of the disappointment lies in one's own consciousness, and a truly noble nature will refuse to condemn others, but rather seek to find wherein it has failed. When we are ourselves so often in need of forgiveness, we should treat others with the same generosity.

A great deal is said about the disillusions experienced in advancing years, but the truth of the matter is that the first fair vision of a world of good is the real, and all that evil would bring up to contradict this eternal fact is the illusion. "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good," is the simple and sublime statement of the inspired writer. All that appeared afterward was mist and an illusion. This philosophy of living, emphasized in Christian Science, enables one to hold thought fast to the good, and at the same time deal in a common sense, kindly way with things as they seem. This ideal is no misty abstraction, but an inspiration to practical goodness. It transforms the every-day world, and gives to its loyal adherents here and now as much of heaven as they earn.

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