It is a well-known fact that many large industries have built, at considerable cost, extensive proving grounds for the thorough testing of their products. For example, newly designed automobiles are driven hundreds of miles at varying speeds over highways so constructed that they subject the machines to every conceivable stress and strain. Thus any flaws in the design and construction of the new models are brought to light and corrected before the cars are placed on the market. The importance of such activity in the successful development and management of an industry is clearly obvious.

But do we as readily recognize that similar testing times are equally indispensable in human experience if we are to understand and prove our heritage as children of God? Concerning this subject, the Apostle Peter writes (I Pet. 4:12, 13), "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

Through ignorance and false education humanity has accepted as real, often with sad and costly results, countless erroneous conclusions regarding God and His creation. Such ignorance and misinformation must be replaced with the spiritual facts of being, for Mary Baker Eddy tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 390), "It is our ignorance of God, the divine Principle, which produces apparent discord, and the right understanding of Him restores harmony."

Christian Science reveals that God, the source and creator of all true existence, has made man and the universe Godlike, perfect and complete. From this Science, we learn that since man is the child of God, divine Mind, he is subject only to God's wise and loving power.

As these truths are accepted and understood, the belief in an evil force or creator capable of causing sin, sickness, and death is seen to be false and unreal. But becoming aware of the truth of man and the universe is not enough. The facts of being must be lived, demonstrated, in all our daily affairs. In other words, our proving grounds are in homes, churches, on the farms, in the factories, and wherever business or social activities may take us.

One week end a student of Christian Science had an important assignment to carry out. Midweek, prior to this, he began to manifest a cold. With the scheduled task in mind, he made vigorous efforts to overcome the threatening cold. Each day, however, it seemed to grow worse.

When he arose Saturday morning after an almost sleepless night, the physical evidence was anything but reassuring. Hoarseness had been added to the discomfort of the cold. Since he would have to use his voice a good part of the day, he realized that only radical reliance on Truth would enable him to go through with the assignment.

After prayerfully considering his problem for a few moments, he suddenly began to see the part which egotism and a false sense of responsibility were playing in the situation. He then began to ask himself a few questions such as: "Do you have a voice of your own, or is God the all-speaking Mind, just as He is the all-seeing and all-acting Mind? Are you going to do the talking, or do you want God to speak through you?"

As the student answered each question correctly, he began to regain a sense of meekness and humility and to lose the false sense of fear and responsibility. His thought thus uplifted, he began to be conscious of his true, spiritually mental selfhood.

He glimpsed that as the reflection of God he could not have or experience anything that did not originate in and come from God. When this enlightened sense of his unity with God flooded his thought, all evidence of the cold and hoarseness quickly disappeared, with the result that he was able to carry out the assignment on schedule happily and successfully.

School and college pupils are advanced only when they satisfactorily pass examinations and laboratory tests. And those who would progress Spiritward must prove their knowledge of Truth. "In order to apprehend more," Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 323), "we must put into practice what we already know. We must recollect that Truth is demonstrable when understood, and that good is not understood until demonstrated." Let us, therefore, guard against the temptation to view our trials as calamities. Let us instead see trials as opportunities to prove what we know to be true of God and man.

Each new triumph will mean added strength and wisdom with which to cope with the next challenging situation or condition. Our great Way-shower, Christ Jesus, used every occasion as an opportunity to glorify God by proving the nothingness of evil and the allness and indestructibility of God, Life and Love.

Christian Scientists also recognize that the prevention of evil is proof of their correct understanding of man's God-bestowed health and perfection. When we have this understanding, we find that we do not have to be sick, fearful, lonely, and subject to accidents, lack, and failure. In reality we can be only what God has made man to be—His complete, perfect, and harmonious expression.

While others may often lend a helping hand, each individual has his own proving to do. As the Apostle Paul writes (II Cor. 13:5), "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." The time to do this, of course, is now. Nothing is to be gained by delay or by stoically enduring erroneous conditions. Truly we are on our proving grounds throughout each waking moment. Let us strive to prove that we are equal to each challenge and test. Added growth and progress are sure to follow.