The Bible tells us of a man who, lame from birth and unable to walk, was carried daily to a gate of the temple where he was allowed to beg for alms. Peter and John, two of Jesus' disciples, went up together to the temple to pray, and as they passed the man he asked alms of them.

The disciples looked steadfastly at him. Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk," and grasping him by the hand, raised him up. The account continues: "Immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God." ^{Acts 3:6-8;}

Up to then this man had known little but inactivity and bondage. Now, in an instant, everything had changed. Suddenly he was free. What had happened? How could this healing have been accomplished so quickly?

For Peter and John the healing was completely natural. Their spiritual sense—so developed through their companionship with their Master and through what they had witnessed through him of the healing power of the ever-present Christ, Truth—enabled them to recognize that in place of a limited, corporeal mortal whose capabilities were paralyzed by inertia there was in reality a pure and free son of God.

In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy gives the following spiritual sense of the word "temple": "Body; the idea of Life, substance, and intelligence; the superstructure of Truth; the shrine of Love." ^{Science and Health, p. 595;} This identity, which is completely spiritual and composed of purely divine qualities, is whole and eternal because it is forever the spiritual reflection of divine perfection.

Grasping this truth more clearly gives us a higher concept of man as revealed by the Bible in the light of Christian Science—man who is God's image and likeness and perpetually dwells in the consciousness of divine Life and Love.

If we are seeking healing of illness in Christian Science, it is necessary to turn away with firm resolve from the image of illness that would manifest itself on our physical body. We need to turn our entire thought away from matter to the realization of man's true identity, or body, the temple that is "the idea of Life, substance, and intelligence." Our faithfulness and obedience in doing so lifts our consciousness above the deceitful images of mortal mind and lets us see that the true man does not first have to be improved, neither does he first have to get rid of many errors. He is already spiritual and whole.

This understanding expands our consciousness and lets us be more alert to the needs of our fellowmen, whether these needs are individual or collective. This spiritual alertness also prompts in us the love and the desire never to pass by, unheeding or indifferent, those who in their extremity hope for help, whether they are looking to persons, circumstances, material auxiliaries, or, as it is often called, chance. What is the remedy we can offer? Christian Science.

What can we do when we have led someone to Christian Science for help? Should we turn away from him and let him once more go his way by himself? Of course, if he wants it that way, we respect his decision, but often we can do the same thing Peter did with the lame man. "He took him by the right hand, and lifted him up." ^{Acts 3:7;} What a loving and compassionate gesture! How necessary it often is to support our brother as he takes the first steps of his new understanding and sometimes perhaps go a part of the way with him, to answer his questions patiently until he himself can walk more firmly.

We would all like to be so transparent for the Christ, the immortal idea of divine Love, as to be able to accomplish quick and instantaneous healings. But what if there seem to be no results? If there is a delay in a healing, can it be because we have not lifted ourselves above the belief that our understanding is not yet sufficient? Whatever it may be, we can be alert not to be led into the temptation of believing even for a moment that there is a power to prevent God from acting, no matter how tightly closed human consciousness seems to be.

When we ourselves have opened our consciousness to the new and fresh ideas inspired by Christian Science, when we have learned to be still and to listen for God's loving guidance, we then realize that qualities of compassion, humility, gratitude, and cordial affection for one another are ever present. When we express them in our dealings with our fellowmen, we help everyone to recognize the way.

Equipped with this spiritual understanding, we can lift ourselves above the lie that evil possesses reality in any form. We are then standing firm and faithful to God, divine Principle, and we feel the all-encompassing consciousness of His love. We sense His omnipresence and omnipotence and know the blissful joy of our oneness, or unity, with Him.

What is it that prevents people from becoming conscious of the blessings of their sonship with God? Is it not ignorance of God and His wonderful creation? Underneath the spiritual emptiness is the desire to be loved and understood. We can abundantly fill this vacuum with love—with the love that is of God and that heals. Like a warm ray of sunshine it fills the anguished and sorely-tried heart with new hope, and Truth, understood, fills our entire being with light and health.

The teachings of Christian Science transform thought from the boredom and meaninglessness of material existence to enthusiasm for and joy in the true values of the Life which is God, good. Whoever adopts this Science and lives according to it soon discovers that his thought expands through true intelligence, freeing him from the fetters he had subjected himself to. He soon finds that self-righteousness, self-will, and self-love have no legitimate place in his consciousness, but are replaced by confidence in God and in the dominion reflected from Him. Recognition of his eternal sonship with God enables him to see things in their true light with serene poise and gratitude.

What is this wonderful religion that has the power to set men free in one instant? Christ Jesus said: "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." ^{John 14:15, 16.} Divine Science is this Comforter. In hallowed thought we can hear the voice of God, and it is here that the Christ reveals to us that there is an answer for every question and a solution for every problem.