Humanity's great need at this momentous hour in its search for peace is to gain a spiritual sense of existence. The spiritual conception of being includes all that is needed to bring the much-longed-for world peace and good will among men. To understand existence as it actually is in Spirit brings harmony and joy into the home, into church, and into business. This understanding is the basis of unity between nations. The human viewpoint of existence must yield to the spiritual viewpoint. "To impersonalize scientifically the material sense of existence—rather than cling to personality—is the lesson of to-day," declares Mary Baker Eddy on page 310 of "Miscellaneous Writings."

True existence, as revealed by Christian Science, is the expression of one indivisible Life, one Mind, or God. Being ever at the standpoint of perfection, true existence is free from deterioration or destruction. It can never be threatened by any material force, nor can it ever come to an end. It remains forever the spiritual reflection of one infinite God. According to the finite, personal conception of being, existence is divided into many lives, or persons, each having a mind and life of his own. To the physical senses, man seems to be a human, finite person, whose life begins at birth and ends in death. The substance of man is supposed to be material, subject to disease, decay, and dissolution. This false conception of being lies at the root of all human discord. From it arises the friction of criticism, jealousy, and envy in personal relationships. It fans the fire of hatred and strife between nations and engenders mankind's growing desperation and fear of annihilation.

These contradictory views of existence are defined succinctly by Mrs. Eddy in her book Retrospection and Introspection" (p. 60): "Science reveals Life as a complete sphere, as eternal, self-existent Mind; material sense defines life as a broken sphere, as organized matter, and mind as something separate from God." Let us reassure ourselves with the divine fact and relinquish the material concept. Let us also accept the fact that the manifestation of self-existent Mind constitutes one's true spiritual selfhood. Let us know that this Mind is the Mind of man and the Mind by which man declares, "I exist; I am conscious."

Self-existent Mind is the only source of man's activity and intelligence, the only constructor of ideas. Being a complete sphere, it cannot be divided; and being eternal, it operates forever. This Mind is the only Mind governing man and the universe because it is God, and there is only one God.

Jesus realized man's inseparability from God and his dependence upon God for all his activity and intelligence when he said (John 5:30), "I can of mine own self do nothing." He knew that man is not a person equipped with a finite, limited mind of his own, but rather the direct expression of the one Mind, which includes within itself all the ideas necessary for the harmony of being. He said (John 14:10), "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

To identify oneself correctly as Mind's expression and give up the mortally personal sense of existence does not mean to lose one's individuality. True self-identification brings with it a much more tangible sense of man's being and his permanent relationship to God. To understand that man's spiritual selfhood, his consciousness, his very life and being, are coexistent with God, absolutely inseparable from Him, brings an awareness of security and safety, a feeling of being loved, cared for, and protected. It reveals here and now the perfection, completeness, and satisfaction of being, obliterating remorse for past mistakes and precluding fear, pressure, uncertainty, and doubt.

True self-identification reveals the ever-presence of that spiritually satisfied consciousness which knows no lack. Herein one finds his true identity forever established as the immeasurable representation of divine Mind, or God.

The deep spiritual understanding that man is the representation of God and not a separate entity apart from Him destroys the self-mesmerism which seems to declare, "I am a sick person, unhappy, lonely, depressed; I need something or somebody from outside myself to bring me health and happiness." It destroys the all too common belief of futility and failure, self-depreciation and inadequacy. In the light of Christian Science such discordant testimony is seen to be untrue and illusive. It stems only from an incorrect conception of being, from false views of existence.

Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 62), "Our false views of life hide eternal harmony, and produce the ills of which we complain." The harmony of man's spiritual individuality, which seems remote to personal sense, is never really lost, never harmed or touched by discord of any kind. Real individuality reflects the peace of Mind in all its serenity and poise, the gentleness and persuasiveness of Love, the radiant joy and beauty of Soul. It expresses the order and steadfastness of Principle, the strength and power of Spirit, the vitality and activity of Life, and the purity and perfection of Truth.

Cultivating these graces of Spirit and impersonating the mortal sense of existence, one finds himself progressively relieved of the limitations of the so-called human personality. The word person is derived from the Latin word meaning a mask. From this a helpful hint is gained in separating true identity and individuality from material personality. Just as a face is hidden by a mask, so do the life and individuality of man seem to be hidden by the idiosyncrasies of the human personality.

Man's natural expression of joy, beauty, and agility oftentimes seems hidden by false beliefs of inferiority, sensitiveness, and self-consciousness. Stubbornness, selfishness, and egotism are among the cramping beliefs which may appear responsible for a sense of failure and disappointment, bitterness, irritation, and unhappiness. It is the false claims of personal sense that bring the weight of personal responsibility with all its pressure and fatigue. Under this heavy load one might easily be tempted to yield to resentment, self-pity, and discouragement.

Sometimes under this guise of personality one's experience appears so drab, so unpleasant, difficult, and burdensome, that a sense of hopelessness overwhelms him. However, the beneficence of Christian Science has come in all its power and glory to lift these burdens. Herein it is revealed that physical personality is no more man's real life than a mask is the face it is covering. It is through the transforming power of the spiritual sense of existence as taught in this Science that this mask is thrown off. Here we find the burden of mortal personality lifted and man's true spiritual individuality brought to light. The understanding of one indivisible Mind as the only Mind of man destroys the false belief of a personal, finite mind. The realization that there is only one all-inclusive Life destroys the belief in many personal lives. Within this spiritual realization mankind will find the solution to all its problems. This understanding of true existence restores broken homes and friendships, bases economic security and stability, and constitutes the peace of the world. All the affairs of humanity, whether at home or abroad, will be regulated and adjusted harmoniously when the world awakes to the great truth that the intelligence, life, joy, and peace for which it has so long been searching come not from human persons and minds, but from one all-inclusive God, the only Mind, the only Life, there is. When the round-table discussions of the world, of family, church, and business are expressive of this indivisible, unbroken sphere of Life, then there will appear peace on the earth and good will in the hearts of men.