Who or what determines our life experience? Is it luck, or good fortune? Are some people naturally born lucky, while others are doomed to misery, poverty, or ill fortune? No, our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, points out that it is the guests we entertain in consciousness, the thoughts we admit or accept, which determine the flow of our life.

She says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 261), "Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts."

When, in the allegorical account of creation, the Lord God, Jehovah, exiled Adam from the garden of Eden, he placed a guard at the east of the garden, presumably to bar admittance to any unauthorized persons who might seek to enter. "So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life" (Gen. 3:24).

On page 537 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy quotes this verse. Included in our Leader's correlative exposition of this passage is the following (p. 538): "Truth is a two-edged sword, guarding and guiding. Truth places the cherub wisdom at the gate of understanding to note the proper guests."

It is imperative that we make sure that this cherub wisdom is always at the gate of our understanding, for if we leave that gate unattended, we may find swarms of undesirable thoughts flocking through the entrance.

The writer's experience attests to this fact. Until he learned to exclude from his thought inferior motives and aims and to welcome in "the proper guests," his life had periods of panic, discord, and the like, and these brought disease, financial distress, bad habits, and confusion.

Instead of being expectant of good, he was apprehensive of evil. He expected the worst, and his expectations were frequently realized. This frame of mind fostered a highly unremunerative cynicism.

When a friend introduced him to Christian Science at a time of dire need, the writer began to experience healings. This Science, which teaches that the man whom God creates is spiritual and perfect, showed the writer how to correct fearful and negative thinking by claiming the Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5).

As the student of Christian Science attempts to live up to the noble standards of this Science and accepts as true only that which is Godlike or good, he is able to approach each day with a sense of purpose and achievement.

The Biblical quotation from Genesis and its interpretation provide the clue as to how each individual may demonstrate harmony. The cherub wisdom, alias conscience, will know intuitively which guests, or thoughts, to exclude. To those which do not bear the imprint of good, it will firmly refuse admittance.

St. Paul has given us an idea of the caliber of guests we should choose for companions. In his epistle to the Philippians he wrote (4: 8), "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Mrs. Eddy's choice is similar to that of the great apostle's. She says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 154): "Strive for self-abnegation, justice, meekness, mercy, purity, love. Let your light reflect Light. Have no ambition, affection, nor aim apart from holiness."

Self-abnegation will sweep our thoughts clean of the cobwebs of self-love, self-justification, and self-will. Justice has many aliases. Refusal-to-criticize-unkindly is one of them. Refusal-to-criticize-unkindly carries in its hand the scepter of the Golden Rule. Its motto is, Since we like to be well spoken of, let us speak well of our associates.

Meekness is coupled with might, for meekness goes to God with every problem and willingly obeys the divine direction. Mercy refuses to see man as sinful, imperfect, or diseased.

White-robed purity lightens the rooms of our mental home and blesses all who may venture within the aura of its radiance. Love is the most exalted guest of all. Its power is derived from the Father, a power that completely destroys sin, disease, and death.

There are, no doubt, many other important guests whom we have not mentioned, but a study of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings will reveal their identity and make it possible to add them to the list of the heavenly certified. Entertaining these guests continually, we are assuredly blessed.

Those, then, who enjoy peace, calm, and a fruitful existence are not what is called "lucky." The fact is, they have produced their own atmosphere of health and prosperity through the guests they have entertained.

Just as certainly as the improper guests bring misery, poverty, sorrow, and the like, so "the proper guests" bring to their hosts sublime gifts of joy, happiness, and peace.