One student of Christian Science, early in his study, learned to ask himself when confronted with a difficulty: "What is there, instead?" Many problems were resolved through this approach, and physical healings took place.

It's helpful to ask ourselves, "What is this thing, right side up?" If God is All-in-all, as Christian Science explains, then how and where can evil of any kind exist? The absolute and scientific answer is that it does not. One is not battling with something real. One is disproving discord by bringing to light one's actual, spiritual sonship with the Father, divine Love.

In the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy tells us: "The greatest wrong is but a supposititious opposite of the highest right."¹ Giving heed to that strong word "supposititious" can take the sting out of any error. Such a stand can uproot error and reveal the foolishness of believing in it, whether it be sickness, fear, worry, lack, danger, or any other inharmonious presentation.

The reverse of the error is the truth in each situation. In Miscellaneous Writings Mrs. Eddy makes a very alerting statement apropos of this: "Every material belief hints the existence of spiritual reality; and if mortals are instructed in spiritual things, it will be seen that material belief, in all its manifestations, reversed, will be found the type and representative of verities priceless, eternal, and just at hand."²

If an evil—whatever its nature—is not real, one can begin to seek out what is real instead. And in proving what is real one will have made a sound demonstration of the Science of Life. The Master, Christ Jesus, brought this Life to light. Later, the full presentation of its Science was given by Mrs. Eddy.

A study of the word "invert" and its derivatives, with the aid of the Concordance to Mrs. Eddy's writings, can throw a penetrating light on one's way. It can take much of the seeming solidity and firmness out of any specific error confronting one.

Moses, fearful of going forward in his appointed undertaking of leading the children of Israel out of bondage to materiality in the form of Egyptian despotism, was shown the nothingness of matter's presentations: leprosy and a staff turned into a serpent were both proved harmless illusions. The supposititious nature of these two errors, shown to him through the Father's direction, brought a great awakening in his thought. This enabled him to go forward enlightened, strengthened, and sure. So our way today will be greatly enlightened as we begin to challenge the various presentations of evil. An understanding of Christian Science furnished by thorough study of the writings of Mrs. Eddy will open the door of thought to great good—good that has appeared to be inverted by the fallacious mortal senses. An out-of-focus, upside-down picture—not two realities, not good and evil in contest—is the illusive result of error's reversal of truth.

"The great truth in the Science of being, that the real man was, is, and ever shall be perfect, is incontrovertible; for if man is the image, reflection, of God, he is neither inverted nor subverted, but upright and Godlike,"³ the textbook states. Then to carry the situation to a victorious conclusion, we need to find out what is there, instead. What is? Man's spiritual sonship, his present perfect identity under Principle, his wholeness as the child of God. Man is loved and loving. Man is totally good. Man is sound, pure and upright, truthful and humble, whole and not sick. These conditions are now and here. They are real. They are demonstrable. Why? Because they express God, who is good alone. They do not include any discordant element. Gradually these golden truths will surface in thought and then be demonstrated by degrees.

Moment by moment everyone has the privilege of challenging errors of mind and body. We can demand of ourselves that we find out what is truly present instead of a hideous lie. All of divine Principle supports such an attempt.

At one time I was in the neighborhood of a number of enormous electric dynamos at the site of a dam where electricity for a large area was generated. It was holiday time. A Christmas tree in the living room was sparkling with many lights. Suddenly it came to me that all the great power of those huge dynamos was behind every tiny light on that holiday tree. Then, thinking further, I saw that the might of divine Principle was behind every right idea. Also that infinite Love was behind every tiniest manifestation of love. This reasoning opened up much inspiration.

In determining the right-side-up of some problem—what is there, instead—we can know that divine Principle is behind this exposing of error to its destruction. The error can be proved to have no real power to harass, sicken, and deplete. No one need wallow in discord like a pig in a mud puddle. Christian Science reveals wonderful spiritual insight, which will grow and glow with each genuine, sacred, sincere reliance on it in everyday life.

The reverse of any error is the truth about it. Where could any error abide if God fills all space? Nowhere but in suggestion, illusion. We are not supposers. We are in reality God's very own image, individual expressions of His self-assertion. We are His. We are not our own. The beloved Paul tersely asks: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"⁴ With this proper identification we can begin to find out what is really there, instead.