In the daily practical application of Christian Science any incident which promotes individual spiritual growth may be looked upon as a steppingstone in one's spiritual ascent to the goal of life eternal. One may recall a youthful adventure in making his way on steppingstones over a turbulent stream or muddy river bed. He reached some stones with little apparent effort, while he viewed others with trepidation, and doubt of his ability sometimes tempted him to turn back. Then perhaps a less fearful companion who had already reached the distant bank encouraged him to keep on trying, with the result that his efforts were also crowned with success.

One's first healing may constitute the first steppingstone in his spiritually ascending pathway. Then if the student is earnest and perseveres in his efforts to prove what he learns, he encounters other experiences which promote individual progress in exercising his God-given dominion over matter or evil. As he attains some degree of spiritual understanding, he recognizes that Truth's healing power is quickly evidenced when his thought is poised in the consciousness of God's allness and supremacy and of man's oneness with Him.

Many years ago the writer manifested what a physician doubtless would have diagnosed as a goiter. In spite of the consecrated prayers of experienced Christian Scientists to prove its unreality, for months she continued to be in mental and physical anguish. In her extremity she decided to ask the teacher from whom she had received class instruction in Christian Science several years previously to help her work out the problem. The appointment was made, and the moment arrived to make known to him the reason for requesting it.

But before she could do this, as clearly as though they had been spoken there came to her thought Mary Baker Eddy's words on page 283 of "Miscellaneous Writings." "Each student should, must, work out his own problem of being; conscious, meanwhile, that God worketh with him, and that he needs no personal aid." She also recalled our Leader's statements in the same book (p. 340): "Is a musician made by his teacher? He makes himself a musician by practising what he was taught. The conscientious are successful. They follow faithfully; through evil or through good report, they work on to the achievement of good; by patience, they inherit the promise. Be active, and, however slow, thy success is sure: toil is triumph; and —thou hast been faithful over a few things." The student recognized these angelic messages as indicating the right course of action for her in this specific instance. So she told her teacher what her intention had been and the spiritual unfoldment which had just come to her. With the sincere desire to practice more conscientiously what she had been taught, and greatly uplifted spiritually, she returned to her home.

There were occasions when mortal mind's argument that there was no improvement seemed overwhelming. At such times the aggressive mental suggestion to seek relief through material ways tempted her to turn back; nevertheless, each time she was enabled to resist it. Then one day, realizing that the harmonious solution of the problem seemed as distant as ever, she urgently turned her thought towards God, petitioning His aid with greater fervency. Quickly these words came to her (Isa. 41:10): "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

This message awakened her to perceive that she had obeyed the former angelic messages only in part. She had been trying to work out the problem without "personal aid," but she had failed to lay hold of the great spiritual truth in our Leader's words, namely, "conscious, meanwhile, that God worketh with him." The recognition and acknowledgment of God's omnipresence and omnipotence destroyed the fear she had been entertaining. A few days later she observed that the claim of evil was subsiding, and not long thereafter it disappeared entirely. This healing has been permanent.

Having acknowledged that the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, as well as our Leader's other writings, chart the way to life eternal, the student of this Science must be faithful in his study and application of its divine laws in order to advance spiritually. He cannot use material means for healing and still expect the truth to heal him. Jesus said (Matt, 6:24): "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

Through his understanding of God's allness as infinite Mind, Spirit, or Life and of man's oneness with Him, Jesus progressively furnished higher proofs of spiritual power and dominion. His healing of the sick and sinning and his raising of the dead were steppingstones from which he advanced to overcome the last enemy in his own experience, and culminated in his final victory over matter or evil, called the ascension.

Jesus knew but one Life, God eternal. He knew that his life would not die, because it was the reflection of infinite divine Life, independent of a material organism. He demonstrated that God's law is the law of Life, life-giving and life-sustaining.

So-called miraculous healings have resulted, even when a patient was declared by attending physicians to be beyond all human aid, from the clear realization of God as the only Life and of man's immunity from evil as Life's eternal expression.

On page 359 of "Miscellaneous Writings" we read, "The way is absolute divine Science: walk ye in it; but remember that Science is demonstrated by degrees, and our demonstration rises only as we rise in the scale of being." Therefore he who would approximate the mighty works of the Master must daily and hourly seek to attain a greater degree of spirituality and a larger measure of the Christ-spirit. In the measure that the Christian Scientist spiritualizes and purifies his consciousness through overcoming evil thoughts, such as envy, jealousy, fear, resentment, relinquishes selfish aims and unworthy ambition, refuses to harbor animosity, even though mortal mind argues one may have been despitefully used, and keeps love for God and his fellow man uppermost in his heart, he will prove the truth of our Master's words (John 12:32), "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."