Normality is that which does not deviate from an established standard or rule; that which is regular and natural. Christian Science, which derives its sanction from the inspired Word of the Scriptures, declares God to be the only cause or creator, divine Principle, the unchanging Father and Mother of the universe.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," defines God precisely as Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, and Love. These synonymous terms combine as one to embrace all perfection and eternality.

Since God is All-in-all and perfect, in Christian Science that which is really normal is understood to be and must be demonstrated as perfect, nothing less. Mrs. Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 104), "According to Christian Science, perfection is normal,—not miraculous."

The human race believes itself subject to inescapable deviations from its own limited sense of harmony, to abnormality or subnormality, and the expression, "Things are back to normal," means little more from the material standpoint than a return to the average degree of risk.

We do not have to accept a material state of affairs. Mrs. Eddy tells us in Science and Health (p. 470): "The standard of perfection was originally God and man. Has God taken down His own standard, and has man fallen? God is the creator of man, and, the divine Principle of man remaining perfect, the divine idea or reflection, man, remains perfect."

Man in God's image has never fallen from his state of spiritual perfection. All that appears to the human senses as less than perfect is but an illusory, material deflection from reality, from the truth contained in the Bible, where we are told (Gen. 1:31), "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." Perfection constitutes the law by which man and the universe are governed.

Such truths as the foregoing are practical and may be applied so as to bring into our human experience a greater sense of well-being and harmony, of health and prosperity. It may at first seem difficult to grasp that in all the wide universe of Spirit, good alone is real and that no negative, evil thought or experience can in reality enter into it. Yet such is the case, and we can prove it.

A student of Christian Science had the opportunity to put this fact to the test recently when the full enjoyment of a short holiday seemed threatened by sickness. He was seized with internal pains, and his wife had a severe cold. At once the student took his stand for the perfection of God and man and endeavored to see that pain and disease are abnormal and unreal.

The student was due to make a trip with friends that day, and although at times the pain seemed severe, he constantly affirmed that "perfection is normal" and that evil is unreal. After an enjoyable day he returned to his hotel to find his wife so far recovered as to enable her to enjoy to the full a dinner engagement at the home of these same friends. In a very short time both husband and wife were rejoicing in a complete return to normal well-being.

It is natural for an individual to be well and strong, to be happy and successful. Suggestions of fear, resentment, depression, sickness, and sin are abnormalities. Should we be confronted with them, they must be instantly rejected from thought and replaced with the convictions that man is the child of God, of omnipresent, omnipotent Love, and that there is no power to tempt, harm, confuse, discourage, weaken, or destroy him.

As we become more alert in refuting error's claims, error will be unable to gain a foothold in our thinking, and we shall experience a great sense of calm and peace of mind. Even in our human affairs, the correct solution of any problem upon our detecting and eliminating the errors and establishing the spiritual facts. We do not claim to have created the solution, but to have demonstrated the truth by correct thinking.

Jesus, the master Christian, told his followers (John 8:32), "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." As we steadfastly apply our growing understanding of the truth of God and man, our confidence in God's ability to deliver us from evil increases. Then human consciousness is purged of error, and we begin to enjoy normality.

In Isaiah we read (40:4), "Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain." Here the prophet saw the power of Truth exposing the impudent and illusory nature of evil's claims and inevitably bringing about its destruction, thereby revealing "the glory of the Lord."

Our Leader echoes this thought in the textbook, where she says (p. 61), "Every valley of sin must be exalted, and every mountain of selfishness be brought low, that the highway of our God may be prepared in Science."

Each day we can add a little to our store of spiritual understanding and reveal more clearly the man that we really and eternally are, manifesting the perfection which is normal.