When my sister and I were small children, we lived near a river and spent many happy hours fishing, digging clams, or wading in the shallows. One day, becoming dissatisfied with our usual routine, we pushed a log into the river, grasped it firmly in our arms and, with just our heads above water, floated aimlessly downstream.

Although vaguely aware of the folly of blithely drifting over treacherous depths, we went much farther than we had at first intended and were dismayed over the prospect of the long trip back. Neither of us could swim, and we were forced to go ashore and struggle barefoot through rather dense undergrowth to the place where our pointless journey had started.

Home seemed very remote, and we anxiously exerted every effort to reach its quiet peace and safety. Through that apparently harmless deviation from wise conduct, we learned a lesson, namely that any aimless drifting is precarious. No matter how pleasant or exciting it may be, it can in no way compensate for the inevitable and laborious return.

Because of fear or apathy, many find themselves drifting downstream with popular beliefs, such as sin, sickness, lack, inferiority, unemployment, incapacity, not realizing how far the current may take them and ignorant of how to escape its force. In Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy says (p. 329), "If men understood their real spiritual source to be all blessedness, they would struggle for recourse to the spiritual and be at peace."

Christian Science teaches that "recourse to the spiritual" is the way out of false human theories and the evils of mortal belief, It also teaches (ibid., p. 396): "The refutation of the testimony of material sense is not a difficult task in view of the conceded falsity of this testimony. The refutation becomes arduous, not because the testimony of sin or disease is true, but solely on account of the tenacity of belief in its truth, due to the force of education and the overwhelming weight of opinions on the wrong side,—all teaching that the body suffers, as if matter could have sensation."

When we understand that man is the expression of God, we manifest too much intelligence to drift aimlessly along with the belief that matter can oppose or in any way hinder rightly directed efforts. Moreover, having discerned the truth, we realize the duty and privilege we have of proving it to ourselves and mankind.

Would that everyone might consent to turn as immediately and confidently to the spiritual as did a five-year-old friend of mine who attended the Christian Science Sunday School. Playing on a porch, he fell off, striking his head sharply on a nearby tree. Rising quickly, he stood silent for a moment, then said emphatically, "I'm a Christian Scientist." With that firm declaration he was off to play again.

There were no tears, no pleas for sympathy or attention, no seeking for material evidence to be refuted. His simple, childlike understanding that Christian Scientists know the unreality of error and the reality of good instantly met his need. It is because of wrong education and popular beliefs that the majority of mankind does not yield so easily and completely.

If we are tempted to believe that "recourse to the spiritual" is unrewarding, we may profitably consider Jacob's struggle with fear, before his meeting with Esau, and the harmonious outcome of that meeting. We may well think of Mrs. Eddy's persistent overcoming of "the force of education and the overwhelming weight of opinions on the wrong side" to establish the Cause of Christian Science.

In working to understand our way out of erroneous human theories, we should remember that the struggle is with a false sense of self and not with a real antagonist. This false sense must unconditionally surrender to God in order that He may destroy the illusions of sin, sickness, and death. Each individual who overcomes error with spiritual facts is having "recourse to the spiritual." Like Paul, we may glory in tribulations if through them we gain patience, hope, and forbearance.

Heaven may seem far away and the struggle discouraging. But Christ Jesus said (Luke 21:9, 25-151): "When ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified.... There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; ... men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.... When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand."

When we accept adversity of any nature as a demand to demonstrate our true being, we shall "struggle for recourse to the spiritual and be at peace."