Each demonstration in Christian Science, however small it may seem to be, is laid on a foundation of an understanding of God. In the Bible and in the writings of Mrs. Eddy are many references to the importance of a good foundation, a foundation of Truth. Christ Jesus brought home this point with a parable (Luke 6:47, 48), "Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock."

In Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy gives "spiritual foundation; Truth" as two meanings of "rock" (p. 593). The choice of a foundation for our lives is something each one must make for himself.

Once the choice of a spiritual foundation has been made, the next step is to begin to prove, or demonstrate, Truth. In Christian Science, understanding and demonstrating are equally important. To understand God as infinite Mind, Life, Love, means that we are capable of demonstrating what we know. Even the youngest students of this Science are expected to use their spiritual understanding of God, the foundation of which is usually laid in the Christian Science Sunday School.

Christ Jesus, whom students of Christian Science accept as their Exemplar, proved the precepts he taught through demonstration. Today his marvelous works remain as a sound basis for individual progress. So a knowledge of Christ, Truth, must be individually demonstrated, "precept upon precept; . . . line upon line; here a little, and there a little," as the Bible records (Isa. 28:10).

The pupils in one class in a Christian Science Sunday School were well grounded in the wonderful truths of God and of man recorded in the Bible and explained in Science and Health.

In one of their first lessons they became familiar with Christ Jesus' concept of God as set forth in the Lord's Prayer. Here the creator of the universe is addressed as "our Father" (Matt. 6:9), who gives us our daily supplies, guarantees our freedom from evil, and is all-powerful.

Mrs. Eddy's definition of God on page 587 of Science and Health and her answer to the question, "What is God?" on page 465 were memorized. These bring out the wholly spiritual, eternal nature of God as infinite Principle, the one Mind, in whose image and likeness man is created. The pupils were shown that in order to be blessed by these truths they must demonstrate them, thereby building their lives on a sure foundation.

One boy in the class was particularly impressed with the fact that God is good, only good, and that man is His image and likeness. "Why, then," he asked, "do I have a bad temper?" This had caused him trouble since early childhood.

It was explained that the son, the image and likeness of God, good, cannot have a bad anything. Therefore the answer to the boy's question was that as a son of God he did not have a bad temper. In fact, it was explained, he had only the nature which he inherited from his heavenly Father. Man is created to express the goodness of God.

The boy was told that self-control, understanding, and love, which help to make up a balanced temperament, belong to him because they belong to the Mind of which he is the image and likeness. This fact would do him little good, however, unless he expressed Godlike qualities. The teacher further explained that it is a matter of choosing each day whom we shall serve and that we succeed or fail according to the thoughts which we build into our lives.

The very next day at school a classmate took a ball away from the boy. He recalled his Sunday School teacher's words and refused to give way to angry thoughts. Instead, he went into the storeroom for another ball. The same classmate came and deliberately took the second ball away. When the boy did not get angry, the classmate taunted him, calling him "chicken" for not fighting back. Still the Sunday School pupil stood his ground, refusing to be carried away by a flood of angry thoughts.

The classmate became furious and hit the boy several times. The boy turned away and walked off by himself, without saying a word. Other classmates, who had at first also taunted him, now came to his side openly admiring his actions. Later the boy had a talk with the classmate who had tried to start a fight and explained why he had not hit back. The explanation was accepted without question. The two became good friends before the day was over.

Demonstrating the facts of God and of man is indeed a wise way to build on the foundation of Christ, Truth. One step honestly taken, one truth patiently proved, pave the way for future steps. When this boy's mother heard of her son's stand, she resolved to be more consistent in her own demonstration of self-control, and his father gave him a rare and generous share of praise for "acting like a man." Although the boy himself gained most from this experience, everyone who witnessed it could not help being enriched in some degree.

"It is possible,—yea, it is the duty and privilege of every child, man, and woman,—to follow in some degree the example of the Master by the demonstration of Truth and Life, of health and holiness." These words of Mrs. Eddy's are found on page 37 of Science and Health. Of course, each one may prove what he knows of God and man.

The world is waiting for this leadership in the classroom, on the playground, and in the community. To have a sound basis, leadership must be a demonstration of Truth. If the foundation is sure, our lives will unfold in orderly progress, one demonstration following another.

Who can better fulfill this task than those who have dug deep for their well-founded spiritual understanding of God, Truth, into the revelation of Christian Science?