Editorial June 30, 1973 Issue

The Value of Higher Values

Geoffrey J. Barratt

The term "value system" has quite common currency. It refers to the priority that people or societies attach to things. As we grow in the understanding of Christian Science, we realize increasingly what a significant influence our value system has on our experience. And by maintaining the right values on the top of our list we can be happier and healthier, and more successful in our role in life.

When I was both young and a new student of Christian Science, I was saving carefully to take a trip to the other side of the world. Once, after having my one spare suit dry-cleaned, I carelessly left it on the parcel rack of my commuter train. In those times this loss meant a substantial setback in my savings campaign because the suit would have to be replaced. But I had heard encouraging instances of the recovery of lost articles through the application of Christian Science. I prayed, according to my new understanding of Science, adding to my mental work great faith and expectation. But I never saw that suit again.

I was disappointed. But in thinking about this later I learned something valuable about higher values. The return of that suit had seemed more important to me than just about anything else. This was partly because I had determined that Science was to be demonstrated in this instance in this particular way. I'm sure I thought much more about the lost suit than about the truth of man's completeness and his unexceptionable inclusion of all he actually needs. My value system, my priorities, needed adjusting.

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