An experienced long-distance runner knows that if he conquers an acute sense of fatigue in the early stages of a long-distance race, he can go on for many more minutes and finally finish the race. The overcoming of that sudden feeling of exhaustion is called in athletic circles "getting the second wind."

This may serve as a helpful illustration to any student of Christian Science. The awakening of an individual from a false, material sense of existence with its fears, disappointments, pains, and sorrows to the recognition of a spiritual sense of Life, where health, holiness, joy, satisfaction, peace, freedom, and immortality are everlastingly established, is in many instances a sudden one. The illumination of one's consciousness with the spiritual facts of Life may be likened to the overwhelming influx of Christ, or Truth, in the minds of Jesus' disciples in the early days of Christianity, on the Pentecostal Day in Jerusalem. It may lift one to a sudden overwhelming vision of the realm of the real. It may for a time carry one measurably above the material sense of things.

This may be the way of someone's entrance in the race for spiritual liberation, when Christian Science first comes into his life. In many instances instantaneous healings have followed these experiences. But if, some time later, the student is confronted with the subtle beliefs of indifference or apathy, discouragement or despair; or if error, through some stubborn form of suffering or sin, would try to force of him out of the race he so enthusiastically entered in the beginning, then moral courage, coupled with inspiration and spiritual joy, is needed to cast out these hypnotic suggestions of the carnal mind. Facing and overcoming these foes fearlessly, he will gain his "second wind" and thereby be inspired to keep in the race. One's progress toward the desired goal will then be steady and unobstructed, until he finally reaches his ultimate goal, the attainment of eternal life.

A number of years ago the writer, who had exhausted all means of medical help in his search for healing from a so-called incurable malady, was, in his desperation, led to the study of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. Through the spiritual inspiration and enlightenment gained by his consecrated study of this book, he was for several months lifted in a degree above the material sense of existence, with its beliefs of fear, suffering, and frustration, and in the course of time he was permanently healed.

Thereafter he devoted most of his free time to a still deeper study and application of this great, new found Science of Life. This advanced him greatly in his spiritual race. Yet some years later, although he felt well grounded and fortified in Christ, Truth, he was suddenly stricken with an acute, stubborn physical disorder. When his own mental work, and later the work of a Christian Science practitioner, failed to bring immediate results, discouragement, self-pity, and hopelessness seemed to overcome him. Yet he persisted constantly in prayer and meditation.

Basing his work upon the spiritual conviction that God, infinite Mind, never made sickness, fear, discouragement, and self-pity, and that these erroneous beliefs therefore do not exist as facts, he continued resolutely refusing to accept these illusive pictures as integral parts of his spiritual selfhood. Man, the forever reflection of God, he reasoned, is fearless, diseaseless, whole, and free now and through eternity. By clinging to these and similar statements of man's true, perfect status as the beloved of the Father, he found his health, freedom, and peace restored.

Since then he has often looked upon this experience as one from which he learned many valuable lessons, which have remained with him. Throughout the years he has frequently pondered the following helpful words from Science and Health, which were no doubt the outgrowth of the many trials and victories of the courageous Founder and Leader of our great Cause (p. 426): "The discoverer of Christian Science finds the path less difficult when she has the high goal always before her thoughts, than when she counts her footsteps in endeavoring to reach it. When the destination is desirable, expectation speeds our progress."

Peter, in his early years as a disciple of Jesus, received several rebukes from the Master because of his impetuosity and lack of wisdom and understanding. Although Peter had perceived and openly proclaimed him as the Christ, the Son of God, yet a little later he thrice denied the Master during his trial. Was not this a sudden standstill in his race as a follower of the great Teacher, a reversal along the road? But what do we find a few days later, after the resurrection, when Peter beheld the glorified, the risen Christ? Here we see a different Peter. Chastened and purified, apathy, fear, discouragement, and grief destroyed, he no more weakened and swerved from his true path, but unwaveringly remained in the race. He had truly learned, as the writer of Hebrews later exhorted, to "run with patience the race that is set before us."

Jesus life and demonstration of the divine Principle, Love, was unparalleled in the history of Christianity. He never swerved from the true path in the race of spiritual accomplishment. He courageously met and mastered all the obstacles along the road and finally finished his race. His three years' work of ministry for the world was an orderly and progressive resurrection of the Christ-idea in his consciousness, which culminated in his glorious ascension over all materiality. This entitled him to be the shower for all who have since become his humble followers.

Mrs. Eddy, after saying that the scourge and cross awaited our dear Master because of his teaching, states in Science and Health (p. 20), "Yet he swerved not, well knowing that to obey the divine order and trust God, saves retracing and traversing anew the path from sin to holiness."

When we as students of Christian Science learn to run "the race that is set before us," as our Master did, we too shall eventually finish our race, reach the desired goal, the kingdom of heaven. In Science and Health we again read (p. 21): "If the disciple is advancing spiritually, he is striving to enter in. He constantly turns away from material sense, and looks towards the imperishable things of Spirit. If honest, he will be in earnest from the start, and gain a little each day in the right direction, till at last he finishes his course with joy."

Let us therefore, as runners of a holy race, follow our revered Leader. And let us, as we run, not be weary, but steadfastly and fearlessly look "unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, ... and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebr. 12:2).