A window, to be a clear transparency for light, must be clean, and the blind must be drawn aside; otherwise, however brightly the sun may be shining, it is impossible for the light to enter freely. The sunlight may shine upon the blind, but cannot remove the blind; the dweller in the house must do that. The instant the blind is drawn, the sun shines into the room unimpeded.

This illustrates how one may be mesmerized for a time by a false sense of material pleasure and ease, until something causes an awakening and he finds that he is not really happy, not satisfied. The darkened room resembles thought filled with evil forebodings, but perhaps not yet willing to see that such errors as selfishness, self-will, egotism, procrastination, fear, doubt, are blinding illusions that are hiding the very help and harmony that one is needing and seeking. The freeing truth, the love of God, is waiting for admission! May we humbly pray to be shown how to overcome whatever trait is a stumblingblock. False characteristics lead to much unhappiness; they are blinds that must be lifted; and as they begin to give way, and the true sense of man begins to unfold, the gleams of light grow brighter. Man, reflecting all the qualities of God,—spiritual, perfect, immutable,—has no selfhood separate from God. Therefore, he is always reflecting God's will, God's dominion, God's love, the acme of perfection.

Mrs. Eddy, on page 295 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," writes: "The mortal mind through which Truth appears most vividly is that one which has lost much materiality—much error—in order to become a better transparency for Truth. Then, like a cloud melting into thin vapor, it no longer hides the sun." Christian Scientists are realizing that real substance is spiritual, and that God's thoughts or spiritual ideas can melt into nothingness all illusions of belief in a substance apart from God, Spirit.

Christian Science teaches us that the way to lose "much materiality" or error is to change our thinking from a material to a spiritual basis; to change our concept of man from the mortal and temporary to man as spiritual, perfect, and eternal. The wrong thoughts we entertain about people or conditions must change too. Material beliefs of hate, misery, discontent, superciliousness, sickness, poverty, must be displaced by thoughts of love, cheerfulness, harmony, meekness, compassion, perfection, and so on.

If we would express the truth, all unhappy, unwholesome thoughts must be kept out of our consciousness; and they can be excluded for the simple reason that they are not of God. We can rejoice to know that Truth is all-powerful and ever available. It is waiting to flood our consciousness with the light of understanding. Humility and purity are most effective in aiding the student of Christian Science to become "a better transparency for Truth," to reflect better the light which brightens not only his own path, but also the paths of others who want to walk in the way of Christ, Truth.

Jesus was a wonderful "transparency for Truth." He knew that God, as Love, Life, Truth, was ever present and ever active, and that His power could not actually be opposed or usurped. He never judged or condemned erroneously; he never regarded evil as real or as belonging to any individual; he saw evil as an illusion, without cause or effect, and separated it from the true concept of man. His clear realization of man's unity with God, coupled with his spiritual love, destroyed error.

Christian Scientists are very grateful that one in this age was able to prove that Christianity, as Jesus taught it, is as practical to-day as it was when he was on earth. Mrs. Eddy manifested in a marked degree such qualities as patience, meekness, fearlessness, moral courage, and love for her fellow men. These qualities and others, in making her a "transparency for Truth," enabled her to discover and found Christian Science, a religion that heals not only physical ills, but business, political, and national discords as well. Are not dishonest, suspicious, competitive thoughts blinding illusions of mortal mind which would try to hinder harmonious, coöperative relationships between men and nations?

It is very necessary to be armed with good thoughts, for while we are entertaining these thoughts we are not mesmerized by any aggressive suggestion of mortal mind, and are likely to become better transparencies for Truth; besides, we are learning not to accept as real any disturbing, anxious, or unhappy thoughts. We have found out that such thoughts are but blinding illusions of mortal mind that would try to keep from us the brightening and purifying rays of Truth, which reveal health, happiness, and peace as present everywhere and available to all.

Jesus said, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." It is evident that Jesus had so fully overcome self that mortal traits, such as self-will, false pride, hate, bad temper, fear, had no part in his thinking. His humility and calm serenity proved that he had effectually removed the blind, material sense of existence from his own thinking; and with joy he realized that, as he said, "the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do." He had surrendered the false material concept of man, and realized that the only man is God's image and likeness, spiritual and perfect; and, knowing that he could do "nothing of himself," he was ready, humbly and gratefully, to let God bring forth the increase.

If we would accomplish the wonderful works Christ Jesus bade us do, we must put aside material sense and self, that the knowledge of God as Love, and of man as the reflection of Love, may increase daily. Love, purity, and humility are truly healing qualities, and must reign in our consciousness. Our Leader has written (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 330), "Let mortals bow before the creator, and, looking through Love's transparency, behold man in God's own image and likeness, arranging in the beauty of holiness each budding thought."