Through his endeavors to make practical his understanding of Truth, to apply the law of God in solving every problem of his daily life, the Christian Scientist is continuously progressing in the way of holiness. The enthusiasm of the explorer, the glad surprise of beholding novel scenes, the zest of right activity, furnish the traveler with constant cause for gratitude. Let us not be so intent on the goal of the journey, the complete answer to our problem, that we miss the joy of experiencing to the full the unfolding of spiritual ideas along each step of the way. Mrs. Eddy tells us what a glorious opportunity is ours, to-day, when she writes on page 158 of Miscellany, "We live in an age of Love's divine adventure to be All-in-all."

Though our individual aims vary, all of us aspire to reach the goal of complete fulfillment. Whether our need is for better health, more congenial surroundings, wider opportunity for the expression of artistic talent; whether we are suffering from a belief in poverty or sorrow, or whether it is sin in its obvious or more subtle forms that is troubling us—whatever it may be that confronts us, we know that the solution to our problem is in Mind, and that we gain the correct answer when we look wholly to Truth and not to human will for assistance.

Prayer is the means of advancement by which we are carried forward from imperfection to perfection. Because the disciples realized this they asked the Master to teach them to pray. "Desire is prayer," Mrs. Eddy tells us (Science and Health, p. 1); "and no loss can occur from trusting God with our desires, that they may be moulded and exalted before they take form in words and in deeds." So these Christian pilgrims yearned for that divine instruction which would show them how to desire. They appealed not to the personal Jesus, but to the Christ, and received a perfect answer in the Lord's Prayer. As we repeat the words of this prayer with increased spiritual understanding, looking to the Christ for our answer instead of to the corporeal Savior, we, too, shall see the perfect fulfillment of our sincere desire.

As Christian Scientists we should fully expect to receive the answer to our prayers. The first point, then, for us to decide is, are our prayers spiritual? Unless they are, the answer will not be forthcoming. Do we pray from a material viewpoint, expecting Spirit to supply the answer? In the Bible we read, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." The spiritual desire, however, is always indissolubly connected with the source of all supply, Spirit, God.

Do we pray for the recovery of the sick and sinful with a heart so overflowing with compassion for our neighbor that we lose all sense of self in the loving desire to be the channel for the expression of God's goodness and mercy to his children? Error would attempt to fool us into supposing our motives are entirely pure, when perhaps they are mixed with worldly ambition to succeed. If in one case we have quickly proved the availability of God's law to heal, in the next case does the suggestion of evil ever tempt us to fear that we may not be so successful this time, and not only fail to bring relief to the patient, but incidentally lose some of our self-esteem?

Every treatment is an expression of divine Love and we need to remember that the only real love is that which is synonymous with Principle. Then, in order to love our brother, we must be willing to eliminate whatever hinders us from clearly realizing the truth of being. Morbid self-contemplation leads nowhere, but healthy self-examination from the standpoint of Principle, the basis of all right action, does help us to start afresh on our task, happy in a new vision of scientific Truth. By the endeavor to cleanse our heart from evil, any attitude of smug complacency to latent error in thought is changed to one of aroused antagonism to whatever would prevent us from seeing the truth. Self-deceived we make little progress, but when we are awake to the error that needs to be overcome, we go forward with vigor.

The one way, then, for all of us to follow the Christ, is to spiritualize our desires. Our endeavors to do this must be indefatigable, else we shall wander from the true path into the byways of material sense. Having gained the right desire—the vision of the spiritual idea—the next step is to put this desire into practice; in other words, we must demonstrate or prove our understanding of Christ, Truth.

In this process, it is helpful to know that the right idea has its basis in Principle, consequently it is protected and governed by spiritual law. No mortal circumstance is able to prevent the natural development of divine activity. The spiritual idea, emanating from Mind is controlled by God and cannot be interfered with by hypnotic suggestions of evil. Its course is already determined by Mind, its creator, "and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?"

As we press forward in our work of putting this spiritual desire into practice, the landscape or conditions of human environment will vary from time to time, but we are continually conscious of the unchanging love of God, expressed in the guidance of Truth. In spite of the din and uproar about us, even when we are in the midst of the noise of conflicting human opinions, if we but listen for it we shall always hear the still, small voice of Spirit, encouraging and inspiring us with strength and confidence in the power of good.

Perhaps the task seems very burdensome, and the traveler is in a valley of difficulty, slowly and cautiously winding his way in obscure paths of mortal sense, forcing an opening through thickets of ignorance and fear, laboriously removing obstacles which at times appear to block his way completely. Beliefs of sickness, selfishness, pride, peculiarities of disposition calling themselves inherited tendencies, satisfaction in present conditions and reluctance to give up established habits of wrong thinking,—these and many other errors seem to make the way hard for him. By clinging steadfastly to his understanding of Principle, however, and holding thought persistently to the right idea, he faithfully pushes on, and soon emerges out of this tortuous path of mortal belief into a broad, pleasant place of spiritual unfoldment and fruition. Here he finds green pastures of peace, bright with the field flowers of humility and gratitude. Through his recent experience thought has become purified, and now he rests, serenely rejoicing in one more victory over self.

But not too long does the pilgrim tarry in any one place. Knowing that Spirit is the only attraction, he is ever inspired to continue his journey. The duties to be accomplished assume larger proportions, and now the traveler sees before him a range of mountains. He realizes there will be many peaks to cross before he gains the highest, the ultimate aim to which he aspires. He knows, too, that he cannot jump from one mountain top to another nor escape taking the intervening steps from one duty done to the completion of the next task. He can only reach these successive heights of pure consciousness by going resolutely up each mountain side. What though the way be rugged! After each ascent the traveler finds himself nearer to God, and the higher the peak the more infinitely lovely is the view, through spiritual perception.

As we journey onward we enjoy the sweet companionship of our fellow travelers. The interchange of friendly greetings and the recital of different experiences along the way broaden our viewpoint. We gladly help to bear one another's burdens, through knowing the truth for ourselves, and for others when they apply to us for assistance. We never become so absorbed in solving our own problems that we overlook our brother's need. It is the divine law of Love that heals, and the measure of our service to others shows how far we have advanced in the way of Life, Truth, and Love.

Mrs. Eddy, in her unselfish and tireless work for mankind, showed us how to pray unceasingly and how to trust our desires to God. She was willing to go unflinchingly and unswervingly, wherever the right idea, the vision of the Christ, led her. Let us bravely follow in her footsteps. It is a privilege fraught with wondrous possibilities. Our beloved Leader describes the course of our entire journey in these inspired words to The Mother Church (Message for 1902): "All Christian faith, hope, and prayer, all devout desire, virtually petition, Make me the image and likeness of divine Love."