Young Practitioners

MARGARET A. L. NOWELL

It is a great privilege to be a student in a Christian Science Sunday School; for not only does the scholar learn there to know God and to experience freedom from sin and sickness, but he learns how to open the way to health and peace for his fellows. No one is ever too young to be a Christian Science practitioner. Everyone who has learned even a little of the truth about God and man can practice his knowledge every hour of every day. Then his demonstration of Truth and Love will shine out like a beacon light in the darkness and guide those who believe they are separated from God into the safe harbor of Christian Science.

Jesus expected all his followers to be healers; and the children followed him to be received into his arms and blessed. He knew that, with their pure thoughts filled with Truth, they could go forth and help to purify the world of error. Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, had the same high expectation of children. On page 37 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" she says: "It is possible,—yea, it is the duty and privilege of every child, man, and woman,—to follow in some degree the example of the Master by the demonstration of Truth and Life, of health and holiness. Christians claim to be his followers, but do they follow him in the way that he commanded? Hear these imperative commands: 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect!' 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature!' 'Heal the sick!'" She makes no distinction between the children and adults, indeed, she places them first in the list; and in the need for understanding and applying the truth the demands on them are no whit less strong than on the older followers of Christ Jesus.

What a glorious opportunity has been placed before each child in the Sunday school! How uplifting to realize that our Master and our Leader expected such grand things of us because they knew that if we receive the gift of Truth and Love into our hearts and demonstrate it in our lives we shall be able to fulfill their highest hopes of us! The practice of Christian Science is not a privilege for the few: it is the natural result of loving God above all else; of yielding obedience to the First Commandment—our earliest Sunday school lesson. Every young student in our Sunday school may exercise the privilege of being a Christian Science practitioner, and the world is waiting for the proof of the healing power of the Christ, Truth.

Healing work is constantly being done by Sunday school children. A lad who had been having trouble with an infected eye refused to allow his mother to ask a practitioner for help, saying he had been taught in Sunday school of his ability to do his own work. Naturally, he made his demonstration promptly, greatly to his own satisfaction as well as that of his mother and his teacher.

With such encouraging proofs of healing to help them the army of Sunday school children can march happily on to fresh victories. There is healing work for young practitioners to do all along the path of their daily lives, at home, at school, on the playground, in college. It is as important for them as for other workers in Christian Science to keep their thoughts resting in divine Love, strong in Truth, that they may instantly be ready to reverse error whenever and wherever it shows itself. Often this can be done only silently; but every right thought reflects the power of good to dispel false beliefs. Let no child believe that another can do his work for him, or that he will not be missed if he drops from the ranks. Each worker, however young, has his part to play in giving to the world convincing proof of the truth of Christian Science.

The privilege of being a Christian Science practitioner must not be allowed to lapse for lack of use. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–29) Jesus showed that those who used what was given them received an increased blessing. The young practitioner who puts the talent of healing to constant use will find his ability and his joy increasing with every passing hour. He will receive the commendation of divine Love as voiced in the parable: "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Then, when he stands on the threshold of twenty and the happy Sunday school days are behind him, the young student will view with confidence the tasks that lie beyond. He will joyfully grasp the broadening opportunities to work for our beloved Cause, because he has practiced what he was taught. He has learned how to study the textbooks by himself and to understand their spiritual meaning. Moreover, he has himself proved that Truth heals.

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