We stood looking at the sign: "Timber Lake—5.3 miles."

A round trip of 10.6 miles is a hearty hike. Should we begin? "Let's try it," I said. Off we went.

Up and up we climbed through the aspens and evergreens, crossing briskly flowing creeks and tranquil meadows, and pausing now and then to record the singular beauty of a scene.

After two hours of steady uphill progress, we were nearing our goal. Suddenly I felt I couldn't take another step. We had hiked from 8,500 to 11,000 feet. I began to feel ill from the exertion. I was overwhelmed by a desire to give up. But I had made it to this point—almost there. I didn't have to be robbed of success.

I squared my shoulders and proceeded, lifting my thought to a statement from the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, by Mary Baker Eddy: "All nature teaches God's love to man, but man cannot love God supremely and set his whole affections on spiritual things, while loving the material or trusting in it more than in the spiritual." ^{Science and Health, p. 326.} I began to feel God's love for man. I felt renewed energy as our group came in full view of a magnificent, cold, clear mountain lake ringed by craggy cliffs rising steeply another five hundred feet.

We rounded the lake and discovered two smaller pools fed by patches of snow still visible on the cliffs above. A blanket of royal blue wildflowers lay beneath our feet.

What a rich reward for our efforts! We felt a surge of gratitude for our perseverance. And a powerful lesson had been learned that relates to Christian Science practice: Through a humbly persistent, spiritual drive we are blessed. And there are as many blessings as there are opportunities to overcome limits.

Have you ever worked on and on for a healing in Christian Science? Many healings come quickly, even instantaneously. But most of us have experiences that require courage and diligence. We may feel as Jacob did. Having wrestled all night with a false sense of self, with years of feeling guilt and frustration, Jacob finally found the true concept of himself. He said to the inner voice (depicted in the Bible as another man), "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." ^{Gen. 32:26.} Jacob's future was vastly enriched through his unremitting resolve.

We can be forearmed against any debilitating arguments that would attempt to retard steady progress toward overcoming disease, sorrow, or failure. For these arguments are merely foundationless deterrents. They should never be weighed in the balance with the elevating, healing ministrations of Christ, Truth. They need to be crushed beneath our progressive spiritual footsteps.

Often these arguments appear as our own thought. We may mistake fear for wisdom, or reliance on human means for practicality. We may even feel that "facing" material "facts" is part of spiritual realism. The apparent human reasonableness of these counterfeits can blind us to good at hand. Don't give in to them! They are prods to a clearer realization of perfection.

Often, if not enough spiritual labor has been invested, we may be tempted to believe that a disease is incurable or beyond the reach of divine power. We might too hastily conclude that "this person will never change," or that "there are no jobs." Christian Science calls these suggestive arguments animal magnetism—a term used to identify all phases of evil, or ungodly thinking. In truth, animal magnetism is nothing. But it is essential to know that it is nothing in order to escape the destructive effects of believing in its myriad disguises. Mrs. Eddy warns, "The doors of animal magnetism open wide for the entrance of error, sometimes just at the moment when you are ready to enter on the fruition of your labors, and with laudable ambition are about to chant hymns of victory for triumphs." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 280–281.}

We can learn how to negate these arguments with potent, scientific truths that encourage and enliven us, transforming obstacles into catalysts of healing. And when the primary goal becomes greater spiritual understanding and grace instead of physical freedom or change in circumstances, the path becomes less obstructed. Learning to pause and rejoice in each day's progress, we appreciate the view of reality from our present spiritual vantage point. The deep satisfaction of seeking truth for its own sake replaces the desperate, willful effort to heal.

How can we do this if our suffering seems acute or our situation hopeless? Ultimately we must humbly yield our spurious sense of self as a suffering, discouraged mortal to the truth of man's eternal perfection as the idea of Love, held securely in Love's embrace. "Remember, thou canst be brought into no condition, be it ever so severe, where Love has not been before thee and where its tender lesson is not awaiting thee," Mrs. Eddy says. "Therefore despair not nor murmur, for that which seeketh to save, to heal, and to deliver, will guide thee, if thou seekest this guidance." ^{The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, pp. 149–150.}

We don't drop our miserable mortal selfhood in God's lap. But we rise to claim our spiritual heritage as God's own upright expression, formed of Spirit, sustained by Soul, with purpose delineated by Mind.

Realization that each of us has continuity of purpose as God's expression releases the transforming energy inherent in this divine purpose. Disease and suffering—and the false, unconscious picture of self as being adrift from God—will then be left behind. Eventually, all of this false self must go. We must shed human will, ego, pride, self-justification, and self-pity in order to put on the garment of glory as God's own manifestation.

Spiritual and moral regeneration is a task of enormous proportions. It takes place as each mortal trait is overcome bit by bit through faithful striving. We feel the healing effect daily in improved circumstances. Mrs. Eddy instructs, "Self-ignorance, self-will, self-righteousness, lust, covetousness, envy, revenge, are foes to grace, peace, and progress; they must be met manfully and overcome, or they will uproot all happiness." And she continues encouragingly, "Be of good cheer; the warfare with one's self is grand; it gives one plenty of employment, and the divine Principle worketh with you,—and obedience crowns persistent effort with everlasting victory." ^{Mis., p. 118.}

Eventually everyone must open himself to his own absolute perfection as God's child, because it is the law of divine being—God's law. The steps of redemption may seem tortuous and steep; they may require much self-immolation. But if the sacrifice is acknowledged and accepted, joy will be the reward.

If Christ Jesus had given in to despair in the Garden of Gethsemane, he would not have drunk the cup, and the glorious triumph of resurrection would not have appeared. But he couldn't avoid God's direction. He saw God's purpose as fixed and unchallengeable. Our responsibility is to weed out fear and intransigent conceit, which are the hallmarks of mortality. Then God's design becomes visible.

Never give up! Healing is inevitable, for perfection is the present and eternal condition of man. Regeneration from all the sins of mortality, and the clear realization of perfection, are our goals. Man has never left this perfect state. God won't let him.