Editorial March 22, 1975 Issue

Careers

Geoffrey J. Barratt

Success is defined in different ways in different societies. But whatever success is, according to our individual definition—being an effective business executive or welfare officer, or a prominent member of a respected profession or a productive scholar or an efficient homemaker—it is most fully achieved when built on a spiritual foundation. In Science, man is the idea of Life, God, always established in Life. The most successful career is the one based on reality—the scientific consciousness of man's present position in Life as Life's idea.

A successful career or lifework is a natural outcome of apprehending the reality of Life's immortal man and universe and making this the groundwork for the consistent work and self-discipline required. According to the Science of being reality is not that which is transmitted to us by the five personal senses. Christian Science challenges "consensus reality" (the seeming reality that human beings generally agree is the reality) on the ground that it is not authorized by infinite Truth, the only cause. Scientific reality is tangible to spiritual sense, the Spirit-derived capacity with which we are all equipped, though we may not be aware of it. "The manifestation of the Spirit," Paul points out, "is given to every man to profit withal."I Cor. 12:7; There is no more satisfying career than developing spiritual sense. And there's no one who cannot find satisfaction and the peace of Mind on this basis.

So long as we think of ourselves as wholly immersed in matter and as pursuing a fully material career, our success is relatively limited and may be short-lived. Life in matter is a delusion. Science radically challenges the common view of life and purpose. Mrs. Eddy tells us, "Wholly apart from this mortal dream, this illusion and delusion of sense, Christian Science comes to reveal man as God's image, His idea, coexistent with Him—God giving all and man having all that God gives."The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 5.