Article February 8, 1969 Issue

"Drop out, tune in, turn on"

[For young adults]

HARRIETTE MELDRIM HILL

Considerable publicity has been given to the problem of society's dropouts, to hippies for their disregard of conventional mores and for their use of drugs. The phrase "drop out, tune in, turn on" has become the rallying cry of those who drop out of the mainstream of life to escape into the psychedelic world of illusion, phantasy, and hallucination. Their loose sexual attitudes, their lack of initiative and responsibility, and their unwillingness to work constructively within society are disturbing factors to contemplate. Granted, society has some discouraging problems, but it needs to be helped, not ignored. And it is not normal for vigorous, intelligent people to allow their mentalities to become negative instead of positive and to be satisfied merely with existing instead of accomplishing.

Yet their rallying cry can be applied affirmatively. Christ Jesus certainly dropped out of the mainstream of orthodox thinking, tuned in to the guidance of his divine Father, and was turned on, or inspired, by the infinite possibilities of his own being as the Son of God. He took the initiative in overcoming all obstacles rather than in trying to escape responsibility. Christian Science teaches us that we need to drop out of mortal mind's regimentation with its beliefs of old theology and material medicine. Individual consciousness must tune in to divine intelligence; then we can respond to the music of spiritual harmony and feel the rhythm of Soul. And we need to turn on through the power of divine Love in our experience, express love toward everyone with whom we come in contact.

This love is much more than human emotion or physical expression, however. Because God is Love and man is His perfect reflection, man expresses perfect love. Unselfish love between individuals manifests humanly the love of divine Love. This expression of love makes the power of God evident in human experience, for a loving and compassionate nature is not weak but strong and active. In the Bible we find the assurance that "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." ^{I John 4:16;} The awareness that we dwell in Love, God, gives us the courage and strength for meeting the challenges of existence instead of evading them.

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