Article December 21, 1929 Issue

Stars of Guidance

MARY E. CONKLIN

Dear to the heart of the Christian is the story of the Bethlehem star. Following the star's scintillating glory, the Wisemen were guided through desert wastes to their journey's end and to a rich reward. Since that time the star has been taken as a symbol of guidance, a symbol of the inspiration, hope, faith, and understanding by which men are led from bondage to freedom.

As one gains some understanding of Christian Science, he realizes that he has started upon a journey the goal of which is the kingdom of heaven, to be attained through the understanding of God and His image and likeness, man. One finds that in this mental journey he can no longer follow the familiar ways and means of material sense—human human theories and dogmas, will-o'-the-wisp material pleasures, ambitions, and desires. One finds that he must look above and beyond matter to behold the guiding light that will lead thought to the true destination.

Awakening to the need of right guidance, the student knows that he cannot be too grateful to Mrs. Eddy for giving explicit directions concerning the true light that illumines the way to the kingdom of heaven. On page 504 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" she writes, "The rays of infinite Truth, when gathered into the focus of ideas, bring light instantaneously, whereas a thousand years of human doctrines, hypotheses, and vague conjectures emit no such effulgence;" and on page 298 she says, "Spiritual ideas lead up to their divine origin, God, and to the spiritual sense of being." From these words we understand that spiritual ideas not only bring light to human consciousness, but guide it to the perception of true being. Spiritual ideas, then, are veritable stars that lead thought directly and undeviatingly to God and to man's true selfhood. Ideas of love, joy, gratitude, purity, understanding—all the qualities "born of the Spirit"—guide thought from sense to Soul. How important that we keep our gaze to the light!

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