Mind is God, divine Principle, omniscient and omnipresent. Mind is always aware of all of its ideas; its activity is always perfect and harmonious; and its expression is always accurate and complete. Divine Mind cannot make a mistake. To God there is never a choice between right and wrong. There is only the right. Each of us is in spiritual reality the reflection of this Mind and manifests all of its qualities. God is the only Mind, the Mind expressed through each of us.

The negation of the divine Mind is the so-called mortal mind. It is erring, independable, and capable only of mistakes, since it is a mistake itself. It claims to be talented in some lines and limited in others; it claims that some of us have more ability and intelligence than others; it forgets, lies, and would lead us away from the truth. It claims that each of us has his own distinct mind, separated from the divine Mind.

In our schoolwork we are depending either upon the divine Mind as our God and Principle or upon the mind which is not real and which cannot reach truth and reality. How important it is to learn to be governed by divine Mind. Mary Baker Eddy challenges the reader's thought by asking in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 462), "Are thoughts divine or human?" She then observes, "That is the important question." I found it very helpful in my work at school to realize the truth of God as Mind and of man as His intelligent reflection before attending classes and before preparing assignments. Then during classes and the preparation of the assignments I tried earnestly and humbly to be aware of the guidance and direction of divine Mind. As I learned to do this consistently my schoolwork began to show much improvement. The work became easier, required less time, and left me more time for the study of Christian Science. But, more important, I gained a clearer understanding of the true nature of intelligence.

Among adjectives which Mrs. Eddy uses to describe God's nature are these: all-knowing, all-seeing, all-wise. In reality we reflect His nature. As we understand this fact we shall find it illustrated in our schoolwork. We shall know what we need to know when we need to know it.

If our motive, however, in applying Christian Science to our schoolwork is only to get good grades, we may be disappointed. Our motive must be to demonstrate the truth of Mind, man, and intelligence, and this applies to assignments in courses which may not interest us but which are required. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy of the true motive for study (II Tim. 2:15), "Study to shew thyself approved unto God."

Jesus was the greatest teacher and the best student the world has ever known. His life was obviously devoted to gaining a clearer understanding of God and man. And the Bible shows us that his understanding of divine intelligence was illustrated in his human experience by his being known as a man of learning. In telling of Jesus' experience with the doctors in the temple when he was twelve years old, Luke writes (2:47, 52), "All that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers." And he further tells us that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." John (7:15) tells us that one day as Jesus was teaching in the temple "the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?"

A correct perspective is necessary in our schoolwork. We must know and remind ourselves frequently what is most important, next important, and so on. We all know how important the study and practice of Christian Science are, and when our study of this Science comes first we shall get the most from our study of Christian Science and from our schoolwork. Alertness is necessary in maintaining a correct perspective. We need to examine our thinking often to be sure material things are not becoming more important to us than spiritual things.

Sometimes we may believe that our schoolwork is hindered by the temperament or idiosyncrasies of a teacher. Here we need to remember that God is aware of man only as His own complete and perfect reflection. Claiming God as our only Mind, we gain the ability and inspiration to see this individual more and more as God sees him, rather than as material sense sees him. Where our concept of our fellow man is a better one our relations with him will improve.

I once had a professor who I thought was unreasonable, difficult to understand, disagreeable, and unappreciative. I finally decided this was a good opportunity to apply what Christian Science teaches regarding man. I forgot about trying to please him, the grade he would give me, and the effect of this grade on my degree. These were no longer of first importance. The important thing to me was holding to a right concept of man as a spiritual idea of Mind, Principle.

I soon felt a great respect and affection for this professor as an idea of God. The human evidence of the change in my thinking was very interesting. He seemed more reasonable, more appreciative of my efforts; he took an interest in my work, and we became good friends. I of course had not changed him. I had changed only my own concept of him.

On page 89 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy makes several statements which have been helpful to many students engaged in academic work and which we might well keep before us each school day. Some of these are: "Mind is not necessarily dependent upon educational processes. It possesses of itself all beauty and poetry, and the power of expressing them. Spirit, God, is heard when the senses are silent. We are all capable of more than we do."