Rehabilitation is a word frequently used in connection with the men and women of the armed services. Such use of the word implies that there is a policy for restoring to these service people, as quickly and as harmoniously as possible, their rights and privileges as citizens, their homes and employment, and the many desirable things which go to make up life in a free and democratic land. Democratic governments recognize that these rights are the heritage of their citizens and not one of them must be abrogated.

In a similar manner, but from a spiritual basis, Christian Science teaches and demonstrates that man, made in the image and likeness of God, possesses, by reflection all the attributes of infinite Mind, and that these attributes cannot be forfeited, nor can man's rights be set aside, canceled, altered or destroyed.

There are two reasons for this. One may be summarized in the words of Mary Baker Eddy, who has written in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 470), "God is the creator of man and, the divine Principle of man remaining perfect, the divine idea or reflection, man remains perfect." This is simple logic deduced from the fact that the nature of the source determines the nature of that which proceeds from the source.

The second reason for man's inability to lose or forfeit anything that is rightly his lies in the fact that there is no power outside the one infinite Mind to rob or assail man, to injure or destroy, to corrupt or condemn. The understanding of this one Mind and man's eternal coexistence with and likeness to Mind, is the basis of Christian Science teaching, and it compasses the rehabilitation of mankind by awakening it to the rights, privileges, and possessions which have never actually been taken away from man but only clouded over by ignorance and false theology. This awakening to spiritual truth is the divine process so beautifully expressed in the twenty-third Psalm, "He restoreth my soul."

In the realm of the real no rehabilitation is necessary, because man, as God's idea, has never deviated or fallen away from his heavenly state. To human sense, however, it would appear that some restoration is necessary to lift the mortal sufferer out of his problem and to reclothe him in the habiliments of good. To such, the Christ, Truth, comes in its tenderness and simplicity to lead along the road from sense to Soul, where he can perceive that his God-given life is blessed, changeless, intact, safe, and free.

The process is clearly indicated in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15). The younger son, for no adequate or substantial reasons, suddenly decides to take the portion of his inheritance and departs into a far country, the fictitious realm of error, unknown to the father and unblessed by him. There, giving rein to the counterfeit and unworthy beliefs of life and intelligence in matter, his existence reaches a low level. Even that on which he feeds mentally is on a par with the swinish elements of mortal mind. It is a diet of starvation and death, the son very soon discovers.

As is so often the case, his very suffering helps to awaken him from the dream. And this awakening is the first step, for our Leader writes (Science and Health, p. 325), "When the sick or the sinning awake to realize their need of what they have not, they will be receptive of divine Science, which gravitates towards Soul and away from material sense, removes thought from the body, and elevates even mortal mind to the contemplation of something better than disease or sin."

Then the prodigal turns towards his father, and his spiritual regeneration commences. The account continues (verse 20), "When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him," and ran to meet him. Love does not wait for the homeward journey to be completed. It comes to meet us when we turn in its direction, and all the rest of the way we have its company in the degree of our sincerity. It is not scholarship or intellectual equipment, not environment or any other factor, but the simple act of turning and acknowledging that Truth is able to save us which enables us to receive the blessings of Christian Science.

The father and son, reconciled and rejoicing, enter their home, and the order is given that the prodigal be given the best robe. Thus he is reclothed in the garments of righteousness—of spiritual thoughts. A ring is placed on his hand and shoes on his feet, for he is the son. The prodigal's long, painful journey over, the father has a feast prepared, clear indication of the abundance in the father's house.

This parable pictures the rehabilitation of mankind, a process which is perpetually going on until false suffering sense finally awakens from its dream of existence in matter and perceives life to be spiritual. The restoration of the true sense of things begins immediately upon the turning of thought towards God, good, as the sole source and fount of existence —the All-in-all of the universe, including man. From this point the way leads onward and upward to the enlarged and clearer views which one attains in the atmosphere of pure inspiration.

In this divine process let us recall and reconsider Mrs. Eddy's words, so rich in meaning and wise counsel (Science and Health, pp. 323, 324): "Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear,—this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony."