It is natural to be successful. Lack of success is usually the result of accepting two limiting suggestions: (1) we do not have sufficient ability and intelligence; (2) we possess ability and intelligence of ourselves. It is not possible to accept one of these arguments of mortal mind without accepting the other.

The teachings of Christian Science quickly and simply show the error of these two suggestions. Christian Science demonstrates that man is idea, having his being in Mind, God. It follows that the Life of man is Mind, and that man expresses Mind's intelligence. Christian Science also teaches that God, Mind, is Love. Therefore, the expression of Love must be the expression of intelligence. Now, let us apply these truths to our school work. As we strive to express more of the qualities of divine Love in our daily life, we shall find ourselves expressing more intelligence and accomplishing deeds we would not before have attempted. We shall progressively realize the oneness of Life, Mind, and Love, and thereby see the nothingness of the first limiting suggestion.

The second limiting suggestion, that we possess ability and intelligence of ourselves, often presents itself. The fact that God is Mind and man is His idea makes it apparent that all true intelligence and ability is of God. Jesus expressed this truth when he said (John 5:30), "I can of mine own self do nothing," and (John 14:10), "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." Consider the relation of the sun and a sunbeam. Suppose the sunbeam decided to take its light and proceed by itself. What would happen to it? It would lose its light, cease to be. Similarly, if we think of ourselves as material persons separated from God and possessing ability and intelligence of ourselves, we cannot hope to be any more successful than the straying sunbeam. In reality man cannot separate himself from God or cease to express Him any more than a sunbeam can separate itself from the sun. Thus we can see that our success in our schoolwork will be in proportion to our recognition of God as the source of our ability and intelligence.

Mankind has long been searching for the secret of success. Yet Jesus revealed this secret to us in his Sermon on the Mount. He said (Matt. 6:33), "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." As we seek to know God as man's Life, we experience more harmony, joy, and order in our daily life. As we seek to know God as Love and man as Love's reflection, we find more genuine and closer friendships. As we seek to know God as Father-Mother, we experience more confidence and security in our work. In other words, our success in our schoolwork and in all our human endeavors will be in proportion to our success in gaining a spiritual understanding of God and of man as His reflection. Our success will not be in proportion to our human endeavors, as we too often mistakenly assume. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy describes man on page 475 as "that which possesses no life, intelligence, nor creative power of his own, but reflects spiritually all that belongs to his Maker."

Honesty is essential to success. In schoolwork this includes honesty with our instructors, our fellow students, and with ourselves. Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 453): "Honesty is spiritual power. Dishonesty is human weakness, which forfeits divine help." If we are dishonest in our schoolwork, we are not demonstrating God as divine Principle, Truth. And by not acknowledging Him. we forfeit His help. By putting forth a consistent effort to be honest in every detail of our life, we come to see that true honesty is the recognition of God and His spiritual, perfect creation as the only reality and that dishonesty is belief in an unreal so-called material creation with no God. A young student once said, "I have come to the conclusion that I have just two things to learn to be an educated man: what is right and what is wrong."

It is sometimes difficult to see, but nevertheless true, that our problems in schoolwork are no more difficult than we make them. This point is illustrated by an experience I had recently. I was preparing a mathematics assignment and was confronted with a proposition I could not prove. I tried several approaches, but none resulted in the necessary proof. I finally decided it was beyond me and, putting it aside, went on to other work. Later, just before putting my books away for the day, I went back to the proposition. I paused a few minutes to seek God's guidance and to recognize Him as the source of intelligence. Then I listened. Immediately the idea I needed came. The entire proof was written out in less than five minutes. The problem had been difficult because I had tried to solve it by human reasoning alone. When I recognized God as the source of all true intelligence, the difficulty disappeared. To paraphrase Shakespeare: There is nothing either difficult or simple, but thinking makes it so.

In college we have major subjects and fields of endeavor. Let us consider Christian Science our major and daily devote as much time to its study as we would to a major school subject. We certainly shall not have to wait until we are out of school to apply what we learn. The result will be, of course, a more demonstrable understanding of Christian Science, greater success in our schoolwork, and a correct perspective of our work—a better understanding of what should come first, and a desire and ability to put it first.