Some youths were wending their way up a precipitous mountain trail. With increased elevation the way became steeper and more narrow; but as each vantage point was gained, they enjoyed a more commanding view of the mountains and the valley. A beautiful spot into which the path widened seemed to invite the travelers to rest before attempting to scale the steep trail beyond; but the harmony of the surroundings was quickly marred by the angry rattle of a snake. Disturbed by their advance the reptile presented a formidable appearance which seemed to dispute the right of way. All but the leader fled precipitately down the trail over which they had come. The leader, a student of Christian Science, calmly facing the disturber, insisted upon the utter unreality of evil which the serpent seemed to typify. Confronted by the witness to Truth, the disturbed reptile shrank, the hissing ceased, and slipping from the rocks it sped swiftly and silently away.

Pointing out the nothingness and consequent powerlessness of evil, Mary Baker Eddy says in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 563), "But why should we stand aghast at nothingness?" Evil is disarmed when one scientifically and persistently knows its powerlessness. This fundamental truth, as revealed by our Leader, is the unfailing key to every situation. It is the truth which stays the serpent's sting and sends evil fleeing before the light of spiritual knowing.

Is not the foregoing incident typical of our journey Spiritward? Having learned in Christian Science the unreality of material things, we begin our mental ascent from the valley of material believing to the summit of true vision — spiritual knowing. The mental trail which winds upward may at times seem steep as we patiently strive to eject from consciousness defrauding material beliefs. But persistent effort is rewarded by the vantage point of demonstration from which we view all things with wider interests and truer motives. Like the serpent, error is disturbed by our advance, and seems to dispute our right to further progress. In school and in business evil may seem ready with its insidious suggestions to tempt us to rush pell-mell down the mental grades over which we have come, thus losing the vantage point we have gained.

In disputed territory, however, lies the opportunity for victory. As we obey our Leader's admonition, "Stick to the truth of being" (Science and Health, p. 418), it is our privilege to prove error's hissing to be an empty, powerless threat, and its glittering promises only a tawdry bauble. Our fidelity to fundamental truths determines the outcome of every encounter and turns what might otherwise become an ignominious retreat into a glorious onward march. Evil comes to us for acceptance, and our acceptance gives it the only life it seems to have. Only when we admit evil to be a terrifying or a desirable reality does it, in belief, become tangent to our career. In reality our true self is never touched. God's purpose for each individual must eventually be fulfilled. But how much retracing of trails would be saved if we always remembered that evil's sinister nature is not fearsome, nor its pseudo-beauty attractive.

Perhaps at no time has thought been in such open rebellion against limitation as it is today. Perhaps at no time has evil so persistently pressed its claim to truth and potency. The resultant tumult should not occasion alarm.

Never before has the unreality of matter and the eternality of Truth been so apparent. Serpentlike, error is fleeing from the presence of Truth because Truth is uncovering and nullifying its claim to validity, power, and life. The changing order challenges dauntless youth to forsake the bypaths of material thinking, with their limitation and woe, for the thought-highway of Spirit, with its limitless possibilities. Spiritual thinking has a definite place in the new era. Purity and innocence, born of understanding, can fearlessly face and put to rout self-indulgence and lust. The world of discouragement, doubt, and depression greatly needs the ministry of the courage, confidence, and joy of youth.

Christian Science enables youth to discern wisely and to evaluate accurately present conflicting forces. With clear, unerring logic it explains the fact that since Spirit is the source of life, opportunity, achievement, all that life holds is likewise spiritual. The error which seeks to attract youth by substituting license for liberty, grossness for courage, sensuality for youthful joy and exuberant life, and unwise, destructive zeal for wise, constructive effort, in the light of Christian Science stands forth in all its unloveliness as materialistic deception. Thus Christian Science replaces the mistaken, limited sense of opportunity and achievement with the understanding of its true, limitless nature. Having uncovered evil's fraudulent character, Christian Science lifts thought above its sinister influence. In the language of our Leader it enables us "to reach the range of fetterless Mind" (Science and Health, p. 84). What more can anyone desire? What more can anyone have?

In Job we read, "The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom." A modern translator renders the passage, "To revere me [God] is your wisdom." Addressing youth, the writer of Proverbs declares, "Wisdom is the principal thing." And he avers, "She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee." "She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her." Obviously, the attainment of wisdom should be the inspiration of all thought and endeavor. For thus alone shall we find all that Life has to offer: renewed opportunity; endless activity; ceaseless growth; uninterrupted peace — even the diversity, actuality, and beauty of irrepressible Life.

Despite the many downward tendencies of the present day it is entirely possible and practical to obtain and retain the true sense of Life, before which the false sense flees. We have but to obey the simple rule which Mrs. Eddy points out on page 4 of "Pulpit and Press" : "You have simply to preserve a scientific, positive sense of unity with your divine source, and daily demonstrate this."