Article August 13, 1927 Issue

Cleansing Fires

ETHEL MUNRO GOSS

It is the experience of many students that as they continue the study of Christian Science they seem to be confronted by many difficult problems. Sometimes it may even seem as though their pathway were harder than that of others who do not appear to be making the same effort, and who are not even interested in spiritual things. It may sometimes seem puzzling as to why such difficult experiences come to the Christian Scientist.

It is evident that if we desire spiritual growth above all else, we cannot remain satisfied with our present understanding of Truth. Speaking absolutely, we are now the sons of God; but in order that this may appear,—be manifested,—we need to overcome in our own thinking all that would prevent the manifestation of the spiritual idea.

In the world of spiritual achievement there are revealed to the eager seeker for Truth higher and ever higher peaks of attainment. The higher we advance in the spiritual understanding of God and man, the more will that which is unlike God be uncovered, until all mortal beliefs shall have been proved unreal. Walt Whitman writes, "It is provided in the essence of things that from any fruition of success, no matter what, shall come forth something to make a greater struggle necessary." One might at first think that such a statement held forth the prospect of an endless struggle; but as one thinks of it from the standpoint of growth, it is remembered that all fruit contains a seed or seeds which, if planted and tended, will produce more fruit. If we have attained to some measure of spiritual dominion, we shall see ahead of us higher peaks of attainment, the desire for finer spiritual qualities. In this sense our progress contains the seed of another growth, instead of the seed of another struggle.

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