Article October 20, 1951 Issue

THE PERFECT MODEL

WILLIAM C. KLINE

When the boy Jesus asked his parents (Luke 2:49), "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" he implied that his first interest lay in the realm of the spiritual. Thus early in his remarkable career he cultivated and attained the ability to maintain a correct view of God and man. He subsequently taught and proved that spiritual understanding alone brings real satisfaction, happiness, and peace.

"Dear reader." writes Mary Baker Eddy in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" p. 360). "which mind-picture or externalized thought shall he real to you,—the material or the spiritual? Both you cannot have. You are bringing out your own ideal, This ideal is either temporal or eternal. Either Spirit or matter is your model. If you try to have two models, then you practically have none."

In our contact and association with our fellow being's in the daily work-a-day world, differences of opinion on matters under discussion arise. Sometimes statements are made and steps taken that tend to offend. The mental atmosphere seems to grow thick and tense. Here is a challenge for the Christian Scientist to unveil the Christ, to hold to the perfect model in his thinking. He will do well to ask himself: "What is my attitude? Am I disturbed, impatient, and resentful? Am I seeing the imperfect model?" If so, the picture will be any thing but real and harmonious. Mrs. Eddy counsels us (ibid., p. 407), "Let the perfect model be present in your thoughts instead of its demoralized opposite."

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