Article March 20, 1937 Issue

The Great Attainment

LINA PLUMER CLINGEN

Probably everyone has at some time asked himself: "Where am I going? What am I doing? Am I accomplishing anything? If so, what?" There may seem to be no satisfying answer to these questions until Christian Science is in some degree understood. Yet without some definite and worthy goal toward which to direct thought, there is no zest in living. The struggle for riches, fame, or position lends temporary interest to human experience, and in the general opinion of mankind such effort is worthy. Certainly it is preferable to inertia, laziness, or indifference. But the truth is that only the loftiest purpose revealed through exalted thought gives real inspiration and joy to our existence. Because "the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God," nothing less than spiritual attainment truly satisfies.

"Attainment" is defined as "accomplishment through continued effort." Christian Science teaches that spiritual facts are forever established in divine Mind, and are omnipresent. Then our need is for receptivity to spiritual truth, for recognition of the presence of spiritual reality, in order that the claim of its absence may be silenced. On page 428 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes, "To divest thought of false trusts and material evidences in order that the spiritual facts of being may appear,—this is the great attainment by means of which we shall sweep away the false and give place to the true." Thus in one sentence she points out the high goal of true endeavor and what is necessary in order to reach it. To divest one's thought of "false trusts and material evidences" requires spiritual understanding.

If trust in material so-called laws tempts us to believe that something is actually going on in matter which may deprive us of life, our strength and our salvation lie in the understanding that Life is God, perfect and immortal. This admission of the infinite perfection of Life reveals the actuality of immortality. It discloses the fact that if every material object, including the so-called material body, were to disappear from human thought, the spiritual man's life, and his joyous consciousness of God, would continue forever untouched. Perhaps this was in the thought of the Psalmist when he sang, "Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

The Great Attainment

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access