Learning is an inspiring and a joyous experience and is generally so regarded. However, the university student may find two thieves which would, if permitted, rob him of his full satisfaction in a light endeavor. One is a sense of confusion and doubt when academic subjects seem to conflict with what he has been taught of Christian Science; the other, a belief of laboriousness or inadequacy. Both suggestions need to be overcome if he is to gain the full fruitage of his labors.

No assertion of the physical or the social sciences regarding man and the universe, their origin or destiny, need disturb us if we remember that mortal mind's theories pertain entirely to its own dream world. They have no connection with the reality of being; whereas the truths of Christian Science, being based on the Bible, are practical and provable in every situation. Because of its causelessness and unreality, mortal mind seeks to give itself a history and a future and to relate itself to man and the universe. But this it can never do. "Entirely separate from the belief and dream of material living, is the Life divine, revealing spiritual understanding and the consciousness of man's dominion over the whole earth" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 14).

Spiritual understanding enables us to comprehend the ideas of God, which are spiritual. Even some physical scientists now admit that there is no such thing as substance matter. But here physical science stops short. It does not replace matter with Mind, for it can have no knowledge or conception of infinite Mind—that Mind which is at the same time infinite Love. It remained for Mrs. Eddy, a spiritually-minded woman, to reveal the truth of God and man which is alone able to achieve our redemption from destruction and death.

A belief of inadequacy or any sense of burden may be the direct result of our believing in and claiming personal ability and responsibility. The real man's only capacity is for reflection. He has never originated an idea or a concept, for man is always effect, never cause. The expression of right ideas is natural to man; indeed, it is his reason for being. This ability is divinely bestowed. Man is the clear shining of divine intelligence, and there is therefore nothing which can dim or obstruct his radiance.

Truth is never uncertain, hesitant, or unsure, and man as Truth's expression continually rejoices in his God-given dominion. Mind's ideas are complete, and unfold in order, symmetry, and exactitude. Spontaneity, originality, and freshness characterize them, for they proceed from omnipresent Mind and are ever available to God's reflection, man. They are controlled and governed by invariable and perfect Principle.

Learning is in fact not the acquisition of so many human theories or opinions. It is the unfoldment in infinite variety and splendor of Truth and its expression. Mrs. Eddy says (ibid., pp. 518, 519): "Nothing is new to Spirit. Nothing can be novel to eternal Mind, the author of all things, who from all eternity knoweth His own ideas." Therefore, nothing can be novel to man as Mind's expression. Everything that we need to know will come to us if our thought is turned toward all-encompassing Mind— our Mind—the only Mind there is. When learning is seen to be revelation instead of acquisition, it will become spontaneous, natural, and unlabored.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). To him who understands that as the expression of Mind he possesses by reflection all wisdom, understanding, poetry, and beauty and power of expression, lack of formal education need not prove a barrier to progress. No dictum of mortal mind can prevent the perfect and complete unfoldment of God's infinite plan in his experience.

Although honesty demands conscientious application to the job at hand, the first consideration is always the gaining of a clearer understanding of God and of man in His image. The practical wisdom of such a course was amply demonstrated for a student during her third year at a university. Membership in the newly formed Christian Science Organization on the campus awakened a great desire to know more of God, leading her to devote much of the second term to this study.

When the time came for the final examinations, the amount of work that needed to be accomplished seemed overwhelming. For several days confusion and fear prevailed. One afternoon, as she opened her books with a sense of futility, she suddenly realized that the only education she had ever had in reality, or ever would have, lay in the facts of spiritual existence which she had gleaned from her study of Christian Science. She realized that man is never the possessor of a limited human mind to be packed with facts and theories, but is the full reflection of the "mind of the Lord." Declaring this to be so, she went ahead preparing for examinations with no sense of fear or discouragement. The daily study of the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly continued to take first place, with such other study as she felt directed to do.

On the morning of the first examination the student opened her copy of Mrs. Eddy's Prose Works, praying for some angel thought to sustain her. The book opened to page 3 of "Pulpit and Press," where a familiar quotation seemed to stand out in a new light: "Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love." This statement was her constant companion for the following two weeks. When the final results were announced, the student was most grateful, but not surprised, to learn that she had far exceeded her previous record.

All material, mortal knowledge is "of few days," but the demonstration and proof of infinite ability and opportunity is for eternity. As students of Christian Science, it is our glorious privilege to aid in bringing nearer that day when "they shall be all taught of God."