Growing Up

[Written Especially for Young People]

MARBEL E. MOUDY

With what eager expectancy young people generally visualize that future time when they shall have reached maturity! Then schoolbooks will be laid aside for the tools of the various industries or professions, and the growing-up period be past.

But to young students of Christian Science there is a difference in the concept of growth. As the years of their Sunday school attendance go by, they learn the value of continuous spiritual growth in the understanding of Life, God, reflected by His idea, man.

Growing up can mean so much more than the physical phenomena common to all. It can mean uplifted thought, a spiritually enlightened awareness of the universe and its divine, governing Principle, God.

A young Christian Science Sunday School pupil told his mother one Sunday morning that he did not want to go to Sunday school any more. He felt that he was quite old enough to do without Sunday school. He wished to remain at home on that particular morning at least. His mother consented, and with his father departed for church.

No doubt the boy missed the usual cheery greetings of teacher and classmates and the joyous singing of the hymns, for he loved to sing. However, it seemed to him pleasant at the moment to do as he pleased.

The following Sunday he again expressed a wish to remain at home. His mother agreed quite cheerfully until he casually remarked that he proposed to spend the day with a party of young acquaintances having a good time unchaperoned. His mother's refusal was very loving, but very firm. She pointed out the error which would deprive him of the understanding of Truth so important to his spiritual growth and future welfare. She said that since he had not yet learned the value of regular attendance at Sunday school, he certainly was not wise enough to make right decisions for himself when company of company of chance acquaintances, many of whom had no knowledge of the protecting influence of Christian training.

There followed a few more Sundays at home, during which he had plenty of time to think it over. The love and tenderness of his parents were a constant reproach. He knew that his active, lovely mother was only so because Christian Science had healed her of a so-called incurable heart trouble. His father also had been benefited in many ways. He himself had likewise known the all-sufficiency of God's truth since his infancy. There were many things to be grateful for. Very soon he expressed willingness to return to Sunday school, and never again did he feel it anything but a joyous privilege to attend.

The obedience which young people accord to parents and teachers—thus co-operating in the advancement of their own welfare—prepares them for service to God and their fellows. They lose nothing by their obedience, and gain much.

It is recorded in the second chapter of Luke that the child Jesus "grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." At the annual feast of the passover in Jerusalem he tarried behind, sitting in the midst of the learned men, listening to them and asking them questions. We wonder what they thought of this unusual child.

His parents had not forbidden this visit to the temple of the wise men, but were greatly surprised and not a little grieved to learn that he had tarried behind. When they found him thus engaged, he expressed surprise that they did not realize the importance of his earthly mission. He already felt that he must be about his Father's business. However, he returned home with his parents, and we are told that he was ever obedient to them, increasing "in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." He was growing up.

On page 244 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy writes, "Man in Science is neither young nor old." And she ends the same paragraph with the statement, "Even Shakespeare's poetry pictures age as infancy, as helplessness and decadence, instead of assigning to man the everlasting grandeur and immortality of development, power, and prestige."

Growing up means increasing in wisdom as well as stature. Truly growing up in Christian Science is a grand experience!

When a foreigner becomes a naturalized citizen of another nation, he is no longer subject to the laws of the country from which he came. When one who has lived in the land of ill-health, emigrates to Christian Science, the laws of medicine, diet, hygiene, and the like, no longer have any claim upon him. He has become a citizen of the Union of Health, Harmony, and Happiness.—W. R. R.

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