One Sunday a young man complained in his Sunday School class of a constant feeling of tiredness and dullness. He was tired, he said, because he had to work all day in a draftsman's office and do his diploma studies at night. And yet, he explained, he could not really understand his weariness because he had tried to put his knowledge of Christian Science into practice. Among other things, he had tried to realize the truth of the statement in the Christian Science textbook that hard work may be experienced without suffering; but there had been no apparent result.

The class then turned to the passage he had referred to on page 385 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, which reads (p. 385), "Constant toil, deprivations, exposures, and all untoward conditions, if without sin, can be experienced without suffering." It was seen that in thinking of this he had neglected the words "if without sin."

"But," he objected, "I do not feel that I have in any way sinned. I work hard all the time and give of my best, both in my work and in my studies." It was accepted that he did not indulge in any of those forms of erroneous thinking commonly called sin, but further discussion brought out the fact that he felt very strongly that his employer should allow him more time to attend his lectures, and that he was working under a handicap compared with many of his fellow students. It was seen that he had admitted into thought resentment and envy, as well as a strong sense of injustice.

Reference was then made to Paul's admonition to the Philippians (4:8), "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." The class agreed that these qualities may be said to indicate spiritual-mindedness, while the reverse of such thinking, including resentment and anger, could be termed carnal-mindedness, or sin. It was concluded then that in the case of this student his "constant toil" had not been "without sin," and that his wrong thinking, not his hard work and long hours, was making him tired.

"Well," said the student, "I can see that, and I can see that I must change my way of thinking." This passage on page 285 of Science and Health was consulted next: "What, then, is the material personality which suffers, sins, and dies? It is not man, the image and likeness of God, but man's counterfeit, the inverted likeness, the unlikeness called sin, sickness, and death."

Sin was seen to be not a reality, belonging to man, but merely a mortal belief that man is separated from God, good, and is capable of acting in a way that is not Godlike. Sin was seen to be a belief only, but a belief which is certainly punished while it is indulged, and which is overcome in proportion as we understand man as the true reflection of God and demonstrate that in reality we are this man.

Jesus presented to humanity the true idea of God, the Christ, which destroys the belief of sin and lifts human consciousness above the picture of man as a material, sinning personality to the concept of him as the sinless reflection of God, good. As we grasp this fact and put it into practice, we are able to prove in our human experience that man is not an imperfect, sinning mortal, but the reflection of God, spiritual and perfect.

Christian Science teaches that the divine Mind, God, knows only that which is good and perfect. Therefore man, the image of pure Mind, can neither know nor express sinful thoughts. In what we call our human experience we are often tempted with the suggestions of sinful thoughts, but our defense lies in the understanding of the true nature of God and man, in the constant effort to be the image and likeness of God, and in unceasing watchfulness to deny any unworthy thought entrance. Our work in this respect lies with ourselves. We do not have to set our employers and instructors right, as it were, to alter what we consider their wrong viewpoint, and stop them from being unfair and inconsiderate; but we have to watch our own thinking to see that nothing but God's thoughts is entertained. When we realize that God lovingly governs all and bestows His riches impartially on all, then we shall not be envious or covetous, smart under a sense of injustice, or be embittered by resentment; but we shall at all times be generous, loving, and sincere.

In our early training, just as much as later in our career, we may seem to experience many instances of injustice, exploitation, limitation, and disappointment; but such apparent wrongs will help to develop our true character when we meet them in the right way. If we tackle them with understanding at the outset, these experiences will establish in us the qualities of the Christ. We need to see sinful suggestion for what it is, a lie about man, which would separate us from God, good, and to see ourselves as the sinless children of God and bring out this fact in our lives. In Christian Science we do not have to advance by suffering, for our Leader's books set forth the unfailing divine Principle and its rules.

The story of Joseph is interesting in this connection. As a boy of seventeen he found himself sold into slavery. There is no record of his being resentful or harboring a sense of wrong, but there is evidence that he continued to express constructive qualities of thought, as seen by his rise to a position of trust in Potiphar's household. Once more, however, his hopes and aims suffered a great setback when for no fault of his own he was imprisoned. Here again he wasted no time in erroneous thinking, but proceeded to make himself as good a prisoner as he had been a slave; and once again the reward of right knowing and acting was made manifest. By refusing admittance to sinful suggestions and constantly holding thought to the true and righteous, he manifested more of the "stature of the fulness of Christ" and later was able successfully to make provision for the kingdom of Egypt during one of its most difficult periods.

Problems of all kinds are really occasions for rejoicing. Handled correctly as taught in Christian Science, they bring us nearer to God in the demonstration of righteousness. We may, at such times, remember the wise words of Mrs. Eddy in an article entitled "Youth and Young Manhood" which she wrote for a magazine (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 274): "Dear reader, right thinking, right feeling, and right acting—honesty, purity, unselfishness—in youth tend to success, intellectuality, and happiness in manhood. To begin rightly enables one to end rightly, and thus it is that one achieves the Science of Life, demonstrates health, holiness, and immortality."

Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.—Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14.