It is commonly believed that we have little or no control over our sight—that matter does the seeing for us, and consequently the condition of our sight is determined by the condition of matter. That is untrue.

For matter to see, matter of itself would have to possess life and intelligence. But Christ Jesus proved that life and intelligence are entirely separate from matter, therefore forever untouched by what seem to be laws of physicality. He healed the sick and restored lost faculties—including sight—annulling so-called material law and showing what God has from eternity bestowed on man: indestructible perfection.

Then what is matter? Though appearing to be a solid condition, it is actually a mental state. Mortal mind is a label for the supposed mentality that views being materially, that holds all theories— beliefs—that would contradict and invert spiritual reality. Human experience, unenlightened by spiritual understanding, is the acting out of this material, inverted view. But spiritual understanding reveals the existence of one Mind, God, and one creation, the perfect, spiritual manifestation of Mind.

It becomes evident, then, that matter cannot see or be seen, for matter is merely mortal mind's view of itself. "Matter is neither self-existent nor a product of Spirit," writes Mrs. Eddy. "An image of mortal thought, reflected on the retina, is all that the eye beholds." ^{Science and Health, p.479;} And mortal mind is incapable of seeing, because it knows only falsehood and to see falsehood is to not really see at all. "The indestructible faculties of Spirit," Mrs. Eddy writes elsewhere, "exist without the conditions of matter and also without the false beliefs of a so-called material existence." ^{ibid., p.162;}

If sight isn't found in matter or in material theories, where is it found? In Mind. Mind is God, the one all-inclusive I am, or Ego —infinite Being itself. Man—the only real man—derives his identity and individuality from God as God's self-expression. Since God is infinite Spirit, God's self-expression has only the substance of Spirit, and that expression includes the undecaying, unerring ability and intelligence of Life, Mind.

The divine Mind created all, and nothing exists outside of Mind, because Mind is All, the source and circumference of infinite being. Divine Mind, Love, sees all that is made, but it does not see with material organs, nor does it see material objects. Divine Mind is Spirit, and Spirit sees spiritually, perfectly. Man reflects this perfect seeing.

Today impaired sight is often considered normal. Can we really claim perfection in the face of such massive testimony to the contrary? Yes, if we understand how.

How then do we bring God's law of perfection directly to bear upon human existence? Through prayer. Prayer in Christian Science closes the gap between the reality of God's creation and what appears as our present experience. Through spiritually scientific prayer we correct the misconception of reality; we turn our thought to God to see the perfection He has given us and His supreme ability and willingness to sustain that perfection.

Often prayer requires a firm denial of the physical testimony in order to break the suggestive hold of this testimony on our thought, and sometimes prayer involves a struggle. But it is never a struggle against a real or active enemy, only a struggle with misconceptions. We know the struggle is over when we feel the peace of the illumined thought, All is well, and I know it. This angelic light of Truth, when allowed to fill our consciousness, shines through our experience—harmonizes and perfects our actions, our bodily functions, our faculties. There is no longer any gap.

Man's substance is Mind, Spirit, which is self-existent and neither depends on nor mixes with matter. Mind is real, matter is unreal, and man expresses Mind's perfect knowing, perfect spiritual discernment.

Man discerns with perfect clarity and precision both the infinite and the infinitesimal. Reality is never too close or too far; it is ever present and perfectly perceived. Farsightedness and nearsightedness are no part of man's seeing. Nor can sight decay with advancing years, because decay and age are lies about man. Man is eternal and changeless, never born, never dying, and each of his faculties is indestructible. What God gave man "in the beginning" he has never lost and will never lose.

Spiritual discernment is true sight. Matter has no part in this seeing and therefore cannot obstruct it. This fact, acknowledged and understood, acts as a law in our lives, overruling faulty sight and revealing perfection.

When faced with impaired eyesight, thought is sometimes—consciously or unconsciously—overwhelmed by the complicated and seemingly interlocking theories regarding the hazards to which sight is subject. But the simplicity of truth, applied through diligent and specific prayer, cuts through tangled theories and brings peace to human consciousness, anchoring it to eternal divine Science.

We don't have to wait to be healed of impaired eyesight. The light of divine Love—Love's tender, irresistible message of man's eternal freedom—when fully submitted to, governs human consciousness, immediately erasing the material misconception. When gone from thought, the misconception is gone from body.

If our metaphysical efforts seem to be having limited or no results, we needn't be discouraged. Though our progress may for a time be unseen, every blow of the ax at the root of error weakens error's hold on our thought. Then, like a dead tree before a strong wind, the error topples before the power of Love. Our confident insisting that no misconception has any hold on our consciousness, our all-out commitment to Truth, and our patient realizing of the nowness of perfection speed the inevitable victory.

Jesus' instantaneous healing of two blind men indicates a continuing need of today. Before their sight was restored, Jesus demanded of them, "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" ^{Matt. 9:28;} They answered affirmatively. We might ask ourselves the same question: "Do I believe, understand, that the Christ is able to restore what seems to be lost?" To answer yes may require an active desire to let go of our trust in matter and turn to Mind to show us reality—lean on Mind as the source of our seeing. This may be a step-by-step process, but, as the two blind men found out, it can have immediate results.

There are profound lessons and much encouragement in Mrs. Eddy's statement: "There is more Christianity in seeing and hearing spiritually than materially. There is more Science in the perpetual exercise of the Mind-faculties than in their loss. Lost they cannot be, while Mind remains. The apprehension of this gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf centuries ago, and it will repeat the wonder." ^{Science and Health, p.487.}