There can be no greater joy for the student of Christian Science than to experience the wonderful inspiration that comes to him when he has gained a spiritual mountain top in his thinking; for there he can glory in the exalted vision and unfettered view of beauteous reality, which he had never realized until he had risen to such a height. While the mists may still appear in the valley below, he can go on his way rejoicing in the sunshine and clear atmosphere on the summit of the mountain.

Yet, in pondering these joyous mental ascents, one becomes conscious that the valley experiences are also something to be grateful for. In the Glossary of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 596), Mrs. Eddy defines "valley" as "depression; meekness; darkness." To human sense darkness and depression are terrifying; for, seemingly, the night has fallen, the mists surround, and no dwelling place is visible. If, however, we read the last paragraph under this definition, we find the never failing illumination of her inspired thought lifting the gloom. It reads: "Though the way is dark in mortal sense, divine Life and Love illumine it, destroy the unrest of mortal thought, the fear of death, and the supposed reality of error. Christian Science, contradicting sense, maketh the valley to bud and blossom as the rose." It is the truth of Christian Science dawning on the consciousness of the seemingly sorrowful, sick, and sinning that can indeed make the valley "to bud and blossom as the rose."

Anyone not knowing of Christian Science may ask how it is possible for one who is placed amidst care and sorrow and difficulties that appear insurmountable to lift his gaze with gratitude to the mountain top, looking forward with confident joy to the moment when he can rise up untrammeled and free from the darkness of the valley below. The answer comes in the simple words used by John, the beloved disciple, "God is love." Divine Love is not like so-called human love, which is apt to be changeable, unreliable, and which can often be cruel as well as kind. Jesus tells us that God is Spirit; and Love which is Spirit knows nothing of the false, unsatisfying desires that are experienced in the so-called love which is based on material reasoning.

The one who is able to gain the peace that passes all understanding and to rejoice in tribulation is he who is learning to have in him that Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus," who never swerved from his faith in God as divine Love. Jesus saw with spiritual perception that man is made in the image and likeness of God; and when sin, disease, and death tried to assert themselves as realities, he denied their existence and declared that the spiritual and harmonious alone were God's creation, and so healed the sick and the sinning, and raised the dead. He said, "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." That light was again discerned, over eighteen hundred years later, by a pure, spiritually-minded woman who, after her own healing had been manifested through the power of God alone, gave her life to discover and prove for suffering humanity the truth which had given her this freedom. She also wrote the Christian Science textbook, which has been instrumental in healing so many because it is divinely inspired, a revelation to Mary Baker Eddy because of her consecrated study of the Scriptures and her great faith in God. Confidence is gained when he who is fearful and sorely troubled reads in this spiritual interpretation of the Bible that his affliction is but a dream, from which he must awake. In the words of one of our Leader's hymns (Poems. p. 12):

Strengthened in this way, a wonderful serenity grows in his thought, and he gains an absolute faith in God's ability to supply all his needs, which cannot be shaken.

A student of Christian Science who was desirous to help in the building of the branch church in which she was a member, felt greatly discouraged that she did not seem able to see more of the true nature of supply. A prayer went up in her heart for guidance that she might gain more understanding of the abundance of Spirit; and she took up the Bible confident that the way would appear. In the twenty-seventh chapter of Exodus the message came: "And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always." Immediately there came to her the spiritual interpretation of "oil" which our Leader gives in the Glossary of Science and Health (p. 592): "Consecration; charity; gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration." The supply, then, was waiting to be utilized! And with gratitude the student saw that she had indeed found that which would "cause the lamp to burn always." The result of using the supply of these qualities to the best of her ability in everyday experience was truly wonderful; and instead of lack, the needs were met in the most unexpected way; and joy came in the realization that true building was being accomplished.

So often those who are longing to gain more of the spirit of Truth feel that they are being hampered by their home surroundings. The conditions are not easy; difficulties seem to be placed in the way; the home seems darkened by temper, unkind words, intolerance. And here is just the opportunity to use the pure oil of charity, of gentleness, prayer, and consecration. In this valley the light can be kept shining by the faithful worker; and out of the night there grows a beautiful meekness which casts away all thought of sense and self, and the student rejoices in following in the footsteps of the beloved Master, who was "despised and rejected of men," and yet gained a crown of glory by overcoming death and ascending into heaven, the realization of perfect harmony.

Many times when the valley seems limited and restricted, the pilgrim of Christian Science may look up to the mountain heights and long to be there in freedom and exaltation; but he sees that his place is to stay and do his work where he is, remaining at his post faithfully and courageously. It is often just here that he suddenly finds that he is free to gain the mountain top, and that he has ascended to a greater height than he has ever reached before: the view is wider and grander, and far more expansive than he could even have imagined in the valley below. This is the time the student realizes his gratitude for his experiences in the valley. The faithful overcoming and patient work have really been progressive steps to lift him higher and give him that joy which no man can take from him. "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

Copyright, 1927, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, Falmouth and St. Paul Streets, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.