When we thrill to the perfection of balance and grace demonstrated by a splendid corps de ballet or the superb craftsmanship of a top-ranking symphony orchestra, do we realize what lies behind the exhibition of each individual's skill? Truly great artists achieve a simplicity that belies the endless hours of study and practice preceding their performance. Rare, indeed, is the genius who can acquire or maintain mastery of his art without effort.

This is true in the greatest of all arts, the art of healing and regenerating mankind. Mary Baker Eddy repeatedly associates two basic steps in her instructions to students of this Science: the first is to understand, the second is to practice. Neither step is fully complete without the other. Mrs. Eddy states it very simply in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 323): "In order to apprehend more, we must put into practice what we already know. We must recollect that Truth is demonstrable when understood, and that good is not understood until demonstrated."

Without practice, understanding is abstract theory. Without understanding, practice is illusive chance. Things may happen, but we do not know why they happen. Solomon prayed for understanding when the Lord gave him his choice of all things because he recognized its basic importance. He knew that with spiritual understanding he could accomplish all that might be required of him. The book of Proverbs stresses understanding repeatedly and advises (4:7), "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."

Just what is this understanding? Is it not the enlightened consciousness that marks the line between the real and the unreal? How do we acquire understanding? By prayer—by knowing and maintaining our at-one-ment with God, our heavenly Father. This leads to an unfoldment of Truth to the expectant human perception. We can recognize this as spiritual unfoldment because it brings with it an insistent urge toward spirituality as well as an ability to prove that which is revealed to our thought.

As we pray humbly, receptively, the knowledge we need comes to us without fail. Then we must take that which is revealed and put it to use, for unless we use it, it does not stay with us. That is why understanding and practice are inseparable. One cannot survive without the other; neither can one replace the other.

We practice what we understand in any field of human or spiritual endeavor in which we desire to progress. From the child who practices penmanship in order to perfect his writing to the metaphysician who practices healing in order to enlarge his understanding of God, each of us is continually practicing: that is, we are engaging the problem at hand with all the strength of our present understanding. As we do so fearlessly, unhesitatingly, the divine Mind increases our understanding to meet this particular problem.

Then comes the real challenge. Do we rest on the laurels already gained, or do we recognize the source of our strength, dig deeper into its endless supply, and come forth better equipped spiritually to meet the next problem?

On the walls of many Christian Science churches throughout the world may be found the inscription taken from our textbook (p. 494), "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need." That is a comforting thought, but it will do us no good if we merely rest our heads lazily on its cushion. For in many cases our real problem is actually to recognize just what our human need is. Sometimes it is the need for greater enlightenment. This enlightenment comes to us when we remain confidently still and listen. More often, however, our need is to put into practice what we already know. The further we progress in our understanding of Christian Science, the stronger this need to practice it individually asserts itself.

Recently while the writer was driving through a remote region of Spain with his wife he was suddenly taken quite ill. They were within reach of a roadside inn; so they went there, and he was put to bed immediately. He was in a state of semicoma, and it was impossible for him to think clearly.

His wife, an alert student of Christian Science, kept declaring mentally and audibly the things she knew were true regarding his real state of being, but his condition grew steadily worse. They were both frightened and felt that if only they could reach a practitioner in a hurry all would be well. They placed a trans-Atlantic call to a practitioner in California.

Every hour the telephone would ring and the operator would report that she still had not been able to clear the long-distance wire from this little town in Spain. Meanwhile the writer was weakening so rapidly that his wife's anxiety to reach the practitioner mounted as steadily as his burning fever. Then the blow came. At one o'clock in the morning his wife was told that all lines were closed and it was impossible to get through. At this moment she realized and, despite his comatose state, made the writer realize that they did not have to reach a practitioner for help. They had only to affirm more clearly and recognize more fully God's ever-presence and power, and know that this healing presence could and would wipe away the lie that was confronting them. Then she read to him from one of the Christian Science periodicals, which they always carried with them, until he fell into a sound sleep. She continued reading and declaring the truth of his being for a good part of the night. In the morning he awakened completely refreshed and ready to proceed with their journey.

In this instance the need of these two students was obviously a challenge to practice what they already knew. Christian Scientists often discover that the more they learn of Truth, the less they desire to lean on someone else's understanding. The child may run to his parents with each of his problems, but his real growth begins only when he stops looking to them for a solution and learns to work it out for himself. Mrs. Eddy states it thus in "Miscellaneous Writings" (pp. 283, 284): "Whoever is honestly laboring to learn the principle of music and practise it, seldom calls on his teacher or musician to practise for him. The only personal help required in this Science is for each one to do his own work well, and never try to hinder others from doing theirs thus."

Christian Science practitioners bring comfort and healing to suffering humanity, yet their greatest service to those searching for help is the realization they bring to them of their true identity as children of God and of their own ability individually to know and practice the truth. Thus, like Solomon, let us each pray for more understanding. Then let us search our present understanding with the realization that therein lies the answer to whatever problem faces us. As we practice what we know now we are ready for greater enlightenment; we are ready to go forth to meet error wherever it presents itself with the realization that the truth is always victorious. We shall find that we can meet the problem before us confidently, expectantly, and understandingly.

The Lord shall open unto thee his good
treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto
thy land in his season, and to bless all the
work of thine hand.—Deuteronomy 28:12.