Glad tidings of emancipation from man-made laws are brought to the world by Christian Science. A student of this Science learns that man is God's individual spiritual idea. If one understands this truth, he can never be marred or manacled by the faults or fears of others. He is free to demonstrate his divine birthright, unfettered by family or human background.

It is not unusual to hear the comment concerning someone who does not measure up to high standards, "With such a background, what more could one expect?" But if mortal mind argues that indifference, lack of education, of ideals, or poverty has deprived one of advantages in youth, imposing a handicap that is almost impossible to overcome, mortal mind is wrong. By using the God-given capabilities of intelligence and grace, one proves that he has them.

Our wise Leader, Mrs. Eddy, says: "In Science man is the offspring of Spirit. The beautiful, good, and pure constitute his ancestry" (Science and Health, p. 63). When through the study of Christian Science we gain an understanding of these truths, we see that human ancestry need not be a determining factor in anyone's life. Nor can human surroundings prevent anyone from discerning and developing divinely inherent possibilities. In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," Mrs. Eddy tells us, "Of two things fate cannot rob us; namely, of choosing the best, and of helping others thus to choose" (p. 165). When these truths dawn on the student, emancipation is at hand.

No matter who we are or where we are, we may choose the best, love it with all our hearts and souls, desire it with all our understanding and strength. By so doing we learn that an inferior background cannot be imposed upon us by circumstance of birth, nor can our status in life be fixed by a wrong choice of associations in youth. We may choose any day, and continue choosing every day, the best—the best companions, the best ideals, the best ambitions. If choosing and continuing to choose the best seems to require more than our human strength, let us remember that as sons of God we possess Christ-power sufficient for victory. Did not Christ Jesus say (Luke 10:19), "Behold, I give unto you power...over all the power of the enemy"?

Among the temptations that might come to one is that of resignation to the belief that it is useless to try to rise above an undesirable background. Is there a surer way to bury one's talent than that of resigning oneself to its loss?

Then he thought circumstances were against him, the prophet Elijah yielded to resignation. He had had the courage to rebuke the wicked King Ahab for his sins; he had had the faith to prove that prayers to Baal were powerless; he had seen, through faith in God's love, the terrible famine dispelled b abundance of rain.

Although King Ahab's malicious intent was changed, Queen Jezebel's hatred remained implacable, and she threatened Elijah with death. In spite of all his triumphs, Elijah gave in to resignation. He went and sat down under a juniper tree, saying to himself, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers" (I Kings 19:4).

But the Lord soon directed him to Horeb and said, "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord."' On the mount, the uplifted understanding of spiritual being, he was shown that even a still small voice, uttering Truth, is more potent than the most terrific forces of destruction. Resignation to evil is never necessary.

It may be that we are deterred from eager, consistent effort to claim our spiritual birthright and its pure heritage of good by resentment that finds expression in a belligerent attitude toward others who seem to be more happily situated. Resentment, however, does not add to our happiness, does not do a thing to correct deplorable conditions. While it is indulged, it stifles worthy aspirations and activities.

Even if resentment toward the past or the present seems justified, Jesus taught that we cannot bring our gift of worship and work to the altar of God while resentment is in our hearts. We must first be reconciled to our brother, hold nothing against him. Why? Because our work in Christian Science is to establish in thought the understanding of man as the spiritual likeness of God.

Resentment insists that there is evil in man. When we honestly acknowledge man to be God's likeness, a sense of personal deprivation is not possible, and resentment disappears. Then we can offer our gifts of love and service untarnished by self.

If we are ashamed of our background, or proud of it, we need to remind ourselves that we are actually the sons of God and that neither reprobation nor esteem belongs to us humanly except as we merit it. We should profit from Paul's counsel to Timothy (II Tim. 2:15), "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Through study of the Science of being we learn to displace ignorance with understanding, to reverse indifference with purposeful activity, to allow low ideals no breath of acceptance, and to become aware that there is no poverty to those who are rich in Spirit. Witnessing to divine Truth, we demonstrate our integrity.

We accept as a promise to be fulfilled the happy assurance in this passage from Science and Health: "A knowledge of the Science of being develops the latent abilities and possibilities of man. It extends the atmosphere of thought, giving mortals access to broader and higher realms. It raises the thinker into his native air of insight and perspicacity" (p. 128). And we can joyfully say with Paul (Rom. 8:38, 39), "I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God."