A FEW years ago six young Scandinavians floated across the Pacific Ocean on the raft Kon-Tiki. That the men reached Polynesia in accordance with their calculations is common knowledge. The student of Christian Science finds an analogy between this courageous adventure and his demonstration of spiritual being through the study and application of this religion.

Careful examination of the expedition's records reveals certain pertinent facts. First, the men were convinced through study and research that others had pioneered with success in such a venture, and they scrupulously followed all instructions left by them. Secondly, throughout the project the men displayed great enterprise, confidence, and joy, refusing to be stultified, discouraged, or misguided by well-meaning but ill-informed human opinion. Thirdly, the raft transported them safely through every storm and protected them from every danger. And fourthly, when at last it carried them over the seemingly impassable coral reef barrier, all were saved because they obeyed the command, "Hold on!"

Christian Science explains man's eternal unity with infinite, divine Mind, God. Our acknowledgment that God is the Mind, Soul, and Principle of man and of all creation may be likened to the raft which the men used. It is strong according to our conviction and demonstration of individual, indissoluble, spiritual unity with Him. The mental viewpoint, changing from a material sense of existence to the spiritual sense of true being in God's image, may be considered our voyage. The false claim of a power opposed to God may be likened to the coral reef. Christian Science teaches us how to build the raft, how to enjoy, how to profit by the voyage, how to surmount each barrier, how to "hold on."

To thought that shrinks from following a course invisible to mortal sense and that clings to the familiar albeit uncertain tangibles of material medicine, to the bittersweet vagaries of human modes and means for attaining happiness and success, our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, points out the healing and regenerative power of true spirituality. She writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 99): "The calm, strong currents of true spirituality, the manifestations of which are health, purity, and self-immolation, must deepen human experience, until the beliefs of material existence are seen to be a bald imposition, and sin, disease, and death give everlasting place to the scientific demonstration of divine Spirit and to God's spiritual, perfect man."

Christ Jesus was the greatest pioneer in demonstrating true being that the world has known. He taught and proved that real selfhood is spiritual, the reflection of divine Mind, that, rightly understood, man's true being expresses God's ever-present, everlasting goodness. Mrs. Eddy discovered the scientific rules underlying Christ Jesus' life and teachings and became one of the great spiritual pioneers of this age when she gave the world Christian Science.

By studying our Leader's writings in conjunction with the Bible, we increase our comprehension of the Christ-idea, which motivated the lives of those earlier pioneers, and we are encouraged to emulate them. Through holding on to the unfoldment in consciousness of spiritual dominion, power, and grace, our raft is constructed. Unlike Kon-Tiki, however, it may be launched the instant construction has begun; and the construction never ceases, for the development of true being is infinite and eternal.

A class in a Christian Science Sunday School learned something of spiritual being and of the need of holding on to spiritual truth by evaluating the lives of Bible characters according to the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:3—17), the Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6:9—13) and its spiritual interpretation as given in Science and Health (pp. 16, 17), and the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3—12). These are listed in the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy (Art. XX, Sect. 3) as subjects for the first lessons in Sunday School.

The life of each Bible character was examined to determine which moral code had been obeyed or disobeyed. For example: Jacob's amicable reunion with Esau, the brother of whom he had taken unfair advantage, was seen to illustrate obedience to that statement from the Lord's Prayer: "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," and its spiritual interpretation in Science and Health, "And Love is reflected in love." Jacob, looking on his brother with reverence, had exclaimed (Gen. 33:10), "I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me."

This inspired one pupil to forgive a schoolmate who seemed quarrelsome. The habit of retaliating was changed to scientific forgiving: for error he gave truth. Looking for God's qualities in his friend and affirming their presence in consciousness, even when hidden behind a false facade of fractiousness, and holding on to this way of thinking, the pupil reported with joy that peace had been quickly restored. This line of almost inexhaustible study supplied the Sunday School teacher with the needed inspiration to hold on to teaching the children the first lessons, and it blessed her in many other ways.

It is common experience for one's health, harmony, and success to be stabilized in proportion to one's comprehension of Christian Science. The wise course is to look for and to accept every opportunity to learn more. The student discovers that the rules and admonitions of this religion have not been compiled into a list for memorizing; rather are they integrated in our Leader's writings, to be discerned according to individual spiritual growth. Consequently, with each reading his enlightenment increases.

Advanced education or intellectualism is not necessary to comprehension, but a longing for goodness, childlike open-mindedness, singleness of purpose, trust, and obedience are. By conscientious application of whatever he learns, the student holds on and rides the raft through the storms of material sense.

The demonstration of scientific being is continual, punctuated by testing times wherein the student's ability to prove the power of Christian Science to heal is challenged.

At such times the student gains fresh impetus from the ringing words of that valiant Christian pioneer, Paul (I Thess. 5:21): "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

A newly elected Second Reader manifested the symptoms of a cold. Having been subject to this belief in distressing forms since childhood, she thought: "This is a testing time. If indeed I am ready to serve as Reader, I should be able to conquer this chronic belief." Consequently she refrained from asking help of a practitioner, but prayed earnestly for herself.

For several weeks the discordant condition persisted, never developing into a cough or interfering with the reading, simply remaining an uncomfortable sensation. One night she silently implored, "Dear God, please tell me what is the matter." Immediately the thought came that she was afraid of not measuring up to her human standard for herself. "But," she argued, "I have been declaring the unreality of fear and false pride." The answer came, "You have been declaring instead of knowing that." As though removing a garment, she cast aside the harassed, self-conscious misconception of herself and gratefully and trustingly acknowledged true identity, reflecting God's supreme understanding, ability, and grace, to be her own. She promised to love and obey His behests and no others. The healing was instantaneous and has been permanent.

It is not the number of years one has studied Christian Science that makes demonstration possible; rather, it is the alert, often courageous willingness to put into practice the understanding one has at the moment of challenge and then calmly, faithfully, to hold on.