For years I thought the cross symbolized only the hard material experiences through which we pass in human life. I believed suffering could play a part in turning us to God and thus in spiritualizing our consciousness. As I loved God, revered Jesus, and honestly wished to be more spiritually-minded, I was willing to bear this cross no matter what the cost, but the burden seemed heavy and the prospect grim.

One day while studying the Bible Lesson in the Christian Science Quarterly, I gained a new, and for me startling, insight into the cross. I realized that the cross was not something to dread. It was the symbol of Christ Jesus' ultimate triumph over matter. It was the emblem of the practicality of Christianity, the pathway to the crown of rejoicing.

It became evident to me that the cross represents the practical import of Christianity seen in those experiences that prove the allness of God. It is the triumph of overcoming, not a reminder of the suffering that had to be overcome. The cross symbolizes the sacrifice of materiality required for the triumph of Spirit over the flesh. Combined with watching, working, and praying, this willingness to give up materiality enables us to overcome sin, sickness, and death.

To me the cross does not simply signify crucifixion. It signifies the Christianity that overcomes death and leads to resurrection. It suggests the process through which materiality is destroyed and the supremacy and allness of Spirit are demonstrated.

Jesus did say, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." ^{Luke 9:23.} But to do this does not condemn us to agony or suffering. His injunction is the demand that we overcome materiality—sickness and sin —through the demonstration of the supremacy and allness of Spirit, God. His directive is a charge to be real Christians by being alert daily to the limiting suggestions of living in matter and by destroying them. We do this through prayer based on our understanding of the allness and oneness of God, good.

When a member of our family came down with measles, a valuable lesson was learned in this regard. Because I had seen the healing effect of Christian Science so many times in my own life, I was confident that prayer is effective care.

As I prayed earnestly, I reached out to God to learn what I needed to know. I began to see the all-action of God, good. At first I didn't see exactly how this applied, but I pondered it carefully.

I recognized that if God, good, is the ever-present and only action, there could be no faulty action, therefore, no disease. This fact that the all-action of God precludes disease came with great clarity. Just at that point the family member said she was hungry and asked me for something to eat. That was the end of the sickness. This experience of healing helped me to see more clearly the work and self-sacrifice that are essential to Christianity and healing.

The cross to which Jesus referred means the effort, the work, even the struggle required to annihilate whatever would obscure man's oneness with God, including human hatred of Christ, the spiritual idea of God. Through this effort we utilize Christianity not as a theory but as a practical power in human experience that will harmonize and spiritualize our lives. In short, to take up the cross is to obey Christ Jesus' command "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils." ^{Matt. 10:8.}

We have our Master's statement that if we are unwilling to take up the cross—that is, if we're unwilling to make Christianity practical in our lives—we cannot learn from him. He is recorded in Luke as saying, "Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." ^{Luke 14:27.} He made this statement before his ordeal on Calvary.

We will encounter discords in life, whether or not we take up the cross. These discords can forward the Christian's spiritual growth if we perceive them as opportunities to overcome materiality as Jesus did. Bearing the cross is the true Christian's way of handling discords. Through it, we overcome them rather than yield to them or feel victimized by them. To follow Jesus' example of demonstrating the supremacy of God—of Spirit, Love, and Life—is the unique duty of the Christian.

Through exercising this practical Christianity in overcoming sin, sickness, and death, we are lifted to the recognition of our oneness with Mind, God. We learn, too, that God knows only good, never evil, and that as His spiritual offspring, we can experience only harmony. This ultimate realization comes by degrees as we learn to demonstrate our true spiritual nature.

Until we gain this final recognition of God's allness and our inseparability from Him, we must continue to take up and bear the cross. This task need not be burdensome, for it includes the joyous demonstration of dominion, the fuller recognition of freedom.

We don't need to fear or dread cross-bearing. It brings great progress and growth in grace. In her little book Retrospection and Introspection, Mrs. Eddy writes: "A student desiring growth in the knowledge of Truth, can and will obtain it by taking up his cross and following Truth. If he does this not, and another one undertakes to carry his burden and do his work, the duty will not be accomplished. No one can save himself without God's help, and God will help each man who performs his own part. After this manner and in no other way is every man cared for and blessed." ^{Ret., p. 86.}

Through following our Master, Christ Jesus, in the way he commands, we overcome and triumph. Through the cross, we win and wear the crown.

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, ... how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.... Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

John 14:5, 6; 15:16