Article April 10, 1943 Issue

"Earth's preparatory school"

[Of Special Interest to Youth]

ARTHUR J. TODD

Frequently young people find themselves in a state of mental revolt against parental control, against social conventions or academic requirements. This situation demands sympathy and patient consideration. And Christian Science gives the only reasonable answer to questions that may arise. Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 70) declares: "Mortal existence is an enigma. Every day is a mystery. The testimony of the corporeal senses cannot inform us what is real and what is delusive, but the revelations of Christian Science unlock the treasures of Truth." The explanation of being is found in Christian Science, which reveals that the real man of God's creating is never born of or into matter, never suffers, is never frustrated, never dies, but is and always has been the perfect idea in and of the perfect Mind, which creates and maintains man, eternal, complete, and harmonious.

But you may ask: If I am already a son of God, a perfect idea of the perfect creative Mind, why must I go through these human experiences of hard work, discipline, disappointment, conflict, frustration, pain, and loss? Why this cycle or phase of human exposure? What is life on this plane? When did it begin? Why?

Let us start by being clear that this material existence is, when examined in the light of spiritual Science, seen to be only a counterfeit, a belief of life in matter with all the uncertainty and transitoriness of human opinion. It is unreal because it cannot be derived from an intelligent cause; hence it never began. It is a dream, as twisted, illogical, and disordered as sleeping dreams usually are. Yet the dream seems very real to the mistaken thought that believes it; it cannot be ignored; it must be met and disposed of. We must wake out of the dream. How? Mrs. Eddy has given us the clue to freedom in two brief sentences (ibid., pp. 485, 486): "Emerge gently from matter into Spirit;" and, "Earth's preparatory school must be improved to the utmost." John declared, "Now are we the sons of God;" and "earth's preparatory school" is a stage in our proving of this fact. As the Apostle Paul told his friends at Philippi, "Work out your own salvation," so our glorious privilege is to "emerge gently from matter into Spirit." This means to emerge spiritually, to come out of materiality, with its attendant suffering and sorrow.

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