Article July 6, 1974 Issue

Life's Possessions

LAWRENCE S. ROSS

The first-year law exam was over, and I felt rather pleased with my performance. I had studied quite diligently all quarter long and had prayed and worked in Christian Science to bring out the qualities of intelligence. This feeling of success was short-lived, however, for two days later my sound sleep was interrupted by the awful realization that I had made an incredible mistake on the exam—one that would ruin the entire essay and probably lower my grade from a level of excellence to a level below average.

Feelings of self-condemnation ran high. Why had I made such a stupid mistake? I had worked so hard! Why wasn't my prayer helpful? My wife supported me through prayer and gentle assurances that all would be well; and with these thoughts I tried to go back to sleep. But sleep didn't come immediately, for there was an important lesson to be learned.

I saw clearly for the first time that the qualities of intelligence, wisdom, and insight for which I had been so earnestly praying are not qualities originating in mortal man. Mrs. Eddy in writing of intelligence says in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, the Christian Science textbook, "It is the primal and eternal quality of infinite Mind, of the triune Principle,—Life, Truth, and Love,— named God." ^{Science and Health, p. 469;}