Article July 16, 1927 Issue

Establishing a Practice

GEORGENE L. MILLER

When one turns to Christian Science and receives a healing through the work of a loving practitioner, he is apt, in the first flush of joy and gratitude, to have visions of the time when he too can help others as he has been helped; and he may ponder on what it means to be a practitioner; he may even think of ways and means of establishing a practice. He soon finds, however, that mortal methods cannot be applied to Christian Science or to any of its activities. As one follows the subject to its final analysis, translating things into thoughts, it is learned that there is only one practice to be established, and that is the practice of right thinking. Furthermore, this right thinking may be begun at once!

Verily, this is a start in the right direction; but when we contemplate the chaotic state of some of our daily thinking, and realize that every thought must be brought into captivity to Christ, Truth, the task of unseeing the chaos and letting the scientific order of God's creation appear in our consciousness, may seem appalling. The awakening to the need for this transformation is, however, proof that it can be accomplished. The desire for it is born of God; and even though the confused mortal consciousness calling itself our human nature, with its acquired habits, its false tastes, its pet indulgences, may argue against this heaven-born desire, may try to obstruct and hinder its fulfillment, God works with us to accomplish His purpose in us; and the overcoming of the carnal mortal mentality is a warfare that brings much satisfaction. Through this warfare we learn that we do not have to be error's thrall; that we can think and act in accordance with God's law; that we can and do reflect the divine knowing. In fact, the real man, in God's image and likeness, reflects God's thoughts. Says Isaiah, "The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass."

In working toward the goal of right thinking, we find a helpful message from our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, on page 462 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where she says: "Anatomy, conceived of spiritually, is mental self-knowledge, and consists in the dissection of thoughts to discover their quality, quantity, and origin. Are thoughts divine or human? That is the important question. This branch of study is indispensable to the excision of error." It behooves us, then, to take stock of our thinking, and learn from whence are our thoughts, and whither they are tending. Our Leader also tells us (ibid., p. 409) that "mortal mind and body combine as one."

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