Article August 26, 1944 Issue

"Each successive stage of experience"

ALICE S. HINKSON

Today there is hardly a home, a family, or a business not affected by drastic change of some sort. As a result, many who are used to the even tempo of settled conditions find themselves with new and unaccustomed situations to meet and master. But this need be no cause for doubt or discouragement; rather can it be an opportunity for the proving of God's largess. Mary Baker Eddy assures us of this in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 66): "Each successive stage of experience unfolds new views of divine goodness and love."

When we question the "whys" and "wherefores" of these hard and seemingly unsurmountable changes, or perhaps rebel because the way appears obscure, we should remember that every experience can be made a progressive one. Out of every trying circumstance we can gain a sense of God's nearness, a closeness to the peace of His power and presence, an awareness of the warmth and tenderness of His love. Regardless of what human sense testifies, "new views of divine goodness and love" can be glimpsed by us ever and always.

One student of Christian Science was faced with several difficult problems to solve of sorrow, separation, and change. It required much prayerful effort to see wherein these tribulations could possibly hold "new views of divine goodness and love." It had been natural to "be glad, give thanks, rejoice" when God 's blessings were apparent, but to discern His goodness when the way was dark seemed futile. Yet our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, makes no reservations in her statement. She asserts that "new views of divine goodness and love" are to be unfolded not in some but in "each successive stage of experience."

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