Those who have reached or passed so-called middle life,...

Susie E. Bates

Those who have reached or passed so-called middle life, and who are learning to think from the standpoint of divine Principle, are understanding that they have cause for rejoicing in the promises of the Bible, and particularly in this verse from Isaiah: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

When I came into Christian Science, twelve years ago, I was suffering from a chronic physical ailment that materia medica had not relieved. Having experienced financial reverses and other disappointments and sorrows, I was bound by fear and discouragement. Believing that life's success and happiness depended largely on environment, intellectual activity, and will-power, I was indulging in self-pity, pride, self-consciousness, and unhappy reminiscences. My former experience in the business world had been largely in the capacity of employer, not employee. Under the above conditions I was obliged to prepare myself for and to seek employment in unfamiliar fields, at an age the business world does not welcome. The overcoming of those false conditions of thought has given me plenty of employment!

Through the help of practitioners my physical troubles were quickly met; and for several years I depended entirely upon their help. I had to learn that only by a complete reversal of former methods of thought, through scientific right thinking and a working understanding of "the scientific statement of being," as taught by our Leader (see Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 468), could I myself demonstrate any permanent health, happiness, or prosperity. It meant to keep human consciousness in constant relation with the one omnipotent, governing Mind if one were to utilize omnipotent power—not to lean "unto thine own understanding;" to cease from planning and outlining, for "he shall direct thy paths."

As I review the past years of gradual growth through Science, I know that His promises are being kept; that although I may not relate any one particularly brilliant demonstration, my outlook on life has been wonderfully changed; and divine Love has granted me so many blessings that lack of space prevents the recounting of them. Science has always met my needs, if not satisfying all that human pride and ambition might claim. It has physically, mentally, and morally renewed my strength. I find that one may add years of freshness—not age—to his life, in proportion to his understanding of the perfect Father-Mother God, and the relation to Him of His perfect idea, man.

These twelve years have been a marvelous spiritual school in which false material theories and knowledge have been unlearned and replaced by the truth. Marvelous, too, have been the instructors, those patient, compassionate, self-sacrificing practitioners who have helped to guide me through the mists of material belief. My one desire is for greater grace and more understanding, that my life may prove my gratitude to God, to Christ Jesus the Way-shower, to our inspired Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, and to those loving practitioners and teachers who have kept my feet in the right path.

(Mrs.) Susie E. Bates, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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