Article June 9, 1956 Issue

SPIRITUAL IDEALS ARE PRACTICAL

GLADYS ELLA GIBBS

Mary Baker Eddy has made many valuable contributions to the subject of ideals. She tells us that spiritual ideals are wholly practical, nay, essential to successful living. Beginning on page 359 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," she discourses on the subject of ideals in the form of a discussion between a Christian Scientist and an opponent. Here the former declares his ideals to be spiritual. He knows that they are drawn from Truth and is convinced that everything is to be gained, and nothing lost, by his apprehension of them. His opponent, feeling such views to be too transcendental to bring personal happiness, defends his worldly ideals, though admitting their imperfection. A warning note follows that a choice in ideals must be made, since it is impossible to work from two opposite standards.

Are ideals practical? Can one follow ideals and still hold his own in the world? These questions taunted the writer, a mother with two young children. She herself had always followed what she considered to be high ideals in human behavior, but found that they were leading her nowhere. All around her were folk who were obviously much concerned with material getting and with seeking to satisfy worldly ambition, sometimes at the expense of others. Outwardly they appeared to be achieving success and progress, while she seemed faced with one disillusionment after another.

As the mother became aware of what was happening, she asked herself: "How can I fit my children to take their place in the world? Shall I implant my own ideals and allow them, in following them, to feel, like myself, a failure? Or must I sacrifice these ideals altogether and encourage them to fight their way, in a competitive spirit, to get the best out of life?" She found no immediate answer, but she was tempted to change her course. Then Christian Science was presented to her, and in this Science she found her answer. She must change her ideals.

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