"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters."  ^{Ps. 23:1, 2;} For centuries mankind have derived comfort and healing from the twenty-third Psalm, for it speaks to them of God's loving provision and care.

To students of Christian Science, it has taken on even greater meaning because Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, has given the spiritual, or incorporeal, sense of the word "Lord" in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. She writes: "[Divine love ] is my shepherd; I shall not want. [Love ] maketh me to lie down in green pastures: [love ] leadeth me beside the still waters." ^{Science and Health, p. 578;}

Love gives us rest and nourishment in the green pastures of understanding, where we feed upon the Word of God and strengthen ourselves with the truth of spiritual being. Love leads us beside the still waters of Life, where we drink deeply of their pure, healing depths. Here are no troubled waves of fearful, mortal belief. Here is only the calm reflection of Truth and Love, the serenity of spiritual consciousness. In these waters the flock of Love's tender care slake their thirst for reality—things divine—for a fuller consciousness of God.

How rightly the Psalmist could say, "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake"! ^{Ps. 23:3;} Or as Mrs. Eddy interprets it, "[Love ] restoreth my soul [spiritual sense]: [love ] leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." ^{Science and Health, p. 578;}

Truly it is Love and Love alone that can renew our affections, Only Love can transform the weary heart and lead us out of the ways of discouragement into the paths of fearless, faithful endeavor. Only Love can lift the jaded lives of men into the joy of walking with God.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." ^{Ps. 23:4, 5;} The Psalmist knew well the protection the shepherd provides for his flock, for he had tended sheep himself.

When I was of high school age, I herded sheep each summer on the livestock ranges of a western part of the United States. Often there were predatory animals to guard against. I depended less on the rod and the staff of the Oriental shepherd than on more modern means of protection, but the comfort and welfare of the sheep were still my guiding motives.

The sheep did indeed sometimes "walk through the valley of the shadow of death." But they had no need to fear evil. Even in the very presence of the lurking beasts, which would not dare to expose themselves to the shepherd, the sheep could graze safely.

In a similar way we can know Love's ever-present care, even in the midst of such material beliefs as danger, disease, sin, and death. Love's staff and rod enable us to go through these shadowy valleys unafraid. Our faithful Shepherd, God, prepares us a table of angel thoughts to feed and bless us; they show us that error of any kind never need be feared, for it is always without power or reality. It can never harm us while we remain in the presence of Love, for Love exposes and destroys its false claims.

Of course, we must be obedient to the Shepherd. Our thoughts and lives must conform to God's requirements, as set forth in the teachings of the Bible and Christian Science, if we are to experience God's protection.

Sometimes, on the range, one or more sheep will carelessly wander away from the rest of the flock and become lost. Then they are subject to the ravages of wild beasts. Likewise, we must be alert that we do not become so engrossed in furthering some personal aim that we stray away from God's care. We need always to be within range of the Shepherd's call and to obey it implicitly. Keenness in detecting error's claims and the prompt rejection of them will keep us safe with the flock of God.

It is a well-known fact among those who work with sheep that their natural tendency is to graze upward. If left at the bottom of a hill, the flock will gradually make their way toward the top. Similarly, it is natural for those who trust in God to be ascending in spiritual development through thinking uplifting, holy thoughts. If we find that we are not doing so, or if we are even straggling downward into less desirable, dangerous levels, we should check our course. Pure and loving thoughts will lead us into the uplands of Soul, where the mental fare is always good and we are safe.

One of the best indications that sheep are thriving is the oil that is evident in their wool. This oil is called lanolin, and when processed it is used in various soaps and cosmetics. Is it not interesting that the Psalmist used the figure of oil when he said of God, "Thou anointest my head with oil"? In this way he expressed the contentment he felt as one of the Shepherd's flock. And Mrs. Eddy shows that Love is the source of unlimited gladness, as well as the basis of true health.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." ^{v. 6;} Having kept his flock safe through the day, the shepherd brings them into the warmth and protection of the sheepfold. The Psalmist exalts this sense of enclosure by referring to it as "the house of the Lord." And Mrs. Eddy exalts it even further: "And I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [love ] for ever."  ^{Science and Health, p. 578;}

To dwell in the consciousness of Love is to abide in the unbroken harmony of perfect spiritual peace. Within its confines man is forever safe, settled, complete. All God's goodness is his to enjoy, not for a momentary period of bliss but forever.

Christ Jesus also used the figure of the shepherd caring for his flock. "When he putteth forth his own sheep," Jesus said, "he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice." ^{John 10:4.} And the Master's daily life was dedicated to proving God's care through the healing of lack, sickness, sin, and other forms of discord.

Christian Science shows us how we too may demonstrate the unfailing love of God. As we learn to know His voice and respond to it, we shall find that the Lord is indeed our Shepherd and that we can "dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [love ] for ever."