The writer was an interested spectator one day at a track meet held on the grounds of a large middle-western university. As each event took place, she noted with pleasure the control which the participants were exercising over their bodies. The pole-vaulting event seemed particularly impressive, and the writer noticed, as each athlete ran swiftly and lightly, pole in hand, to the proper place at which to begin the vault, that there was never the slightest hesitancy at attempting it, no matter how high the bar had been placed.

What a lesson for the student of Christian Science, she thought, as she likened the vaulter's attempt to clear the bar to the mental attitude of the Christian Scientist in endeavoring to solve a problem—whether a physical, moral, social, or financial one. The athlete, if he had hesitated an instant before leaping, or worse still, had become afraid at that point to attempt it at all, would have made a complete failure. Similarly, fear, indecision, or hesitancy would claim to prevent us, as Christian Scientists, from solving our problems.

An even clearer illustration came to the writer's thought during the hurdle races, for the same courageous approach seen in the pole vaulting was evident here. A hurdle race, as most boys and girls know, consists of running along a certain course and leaping over a succession of obstacles on the way. It was noticed that the racers, having jumped the first bar successfully, did not hesitate at the second, or the third, and so on, but took each one in their stride, pressing eagerly on until the race was run.

Sometimes a student of Christian Science may seem for a period of time to encounter very few difficulties or problems. Then he comes face to face with one that seems tremendous. Attacking it courageously, however, with the understanding that, as St. Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," he finally conquers it—and what joy the overcoming brings! And the student who, like the hurdler, meets with not only one obstacles to his progress, but a succession of obstacles, is encouraged by the overcoming of one and presses joyously on to the next, never allowing discouragement, self-pity, or a sense of defeat to enter his thinking. So he too receives the "crown of rejoicing," which is awarded "to him that overcometh." By his courage and perseverance he has proved for himself the truth of a statement made by our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in a letter written in 1886 and printed in one of our periodicals (Christian Science Sentinel, March 6, 1937): "Each victory won over self and sickness strengthens you for the next contest, and so on, until you can say with the Apostle, 'I have fought a good fight.' "

A third helpful thought presented itself to the writer when she noticed that several athletes who had lost in earlier events reappeared to try their skill in later ones. In these boys she saw expressed the quality of good sportsmanship, consisting of willingness to forget failure, determination, pluck, tenacity, and optimism. As she was thinking along this line, there came to her these inspiring words of St. Paul, who was a loyal follower of our dear Master, Christ Jesus: "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

So let us, as young students of Christian Science, think of past mistakes only as valuable lessons to help us to do better work next time, and press on toward our goal—the complete understanding of God and man, as revealed in Christian Science. As the boys and girls in schools and colleges learn all they need to know about athletics from the members of the coaching staff, so we, as spiritual aspirants, receive our training from the Bible, together with Science and Health and our Leader's other writings. Without this training we cannot win; with it we cannot lose.

There is one important difference between the athlete and the spiritual worker. The former is always in competition with others, and in order to win the coveted championship must defeat others. In spiritual activity one never competes with others, but strives each day to do a little better thinking than he did the day before; for better thinking results in doing better whatever one has to do.

The student of Christian Science never need attempt to clear a single mental hurdle by himself, for he has learned in Christian Science that God is Love, and that because man is God's image and likeness, he cannot for an instant be separated from Him—that God is with him always, an ever-present help. Then, as each obstacles is overcome, each problem solved, let us gratefully and joyously acknowledge that all good comes from God.