Article January 17, 1976 Issue

Perseverance Pays Off

CARROLL W. NEWPORT

One year when our family took a vacation, we backpacked for seven days, encountering obstacles unthought of. But throughout that experience, and what I'm reminded of today, was an incomparable view that was only achieved by our willingness to put out the extra effort required. The beautiful sight that awaited us as we reached our goal rewarded us fully, and it will always be a treasured memory.

We can liken that experience to the perseverance required for spiritualizing human consciousness—that is, lifting thought above the false beliefs of life in matter—which is so essential in bringing about healing in Christian Science.

It is love for God that motivates the desire for spirituality. By gaining a better understanding of spiritual reality thought ascends. Confident of achieving the promised goal of spiritual good, we push on, praying for inspiration, living increasingly in the awareness of God's perfect creation and goodness. If the climb takes longer than anticipated, we can rejoice in the spiritual truths we now understand. Mrs. Eddy gives us this directive: "There is no excellence without labor; and the time to work, is now. Only by persistent, unremitting, straightforward toil; by turning neither to the right nor to the left, seeking no other pursuit or pleasure than that which cometh from God, can you win and wear the crown of the faithful."^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 340;}