A High School Student Writes

A practical Religion

JOYCE CAROL ROBERTS

For a student, Christian Science is the one beneficial subject to study. In the Bible we read, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33). "These things" are not necessarily all material; they can include such spiritual riches as joy, health, wisdom, inspiration, and love. Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 241), "One's aim, a point beyond faith, should be to find the footsteps of Truth, the way to health and holiness."

Why should this be one's aim? As one gains the understanding through Christian Science of what he really is, namely the reflection of God, the reflection of His infinite and eternal intelligence, of His beauty and harmony, then Christian Science becomes a practical religion.

Christian Science is the way of Life. It has helped me with physical difficulties, school life, and schoolwork. One afternoon I came home from school very much discouraged. In two days' time I was to take an examination. I felt I did not understand the subject matter, and so I was afraid. My family pointed out to me that here was another opportunity to demonstrate the efficacy of Christian Science.

I began to realize that I was the child of God, His image and likeness. Therefore, I could not help reflecting His infinite intelligence, wisdom, and joy. I knew too that to the extent that I understood this, I did not have to go through a labored process to obtain intelligence since in reality I already had it.

However, the thought came to me that I could not understand the subject because my teacher's explanations had not been clear. I was accepting the commonly expressed thought of my classmates that the teacher was a poor one. Then I realized I was believing that I was the intelligent reflection of God, but that he was not!

In Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy states (p. 378), "Unwittingly you sentence yourself to suffer." How true this was! To the extent that I believed that a false belief could harm or limit me, I would suffer from this belief. It was then pointed out to me that my teacher did not have to change in some way, but rather my concept of him had to change. In Science, man is the reflection of divine intelligence. It was my job to recognize that this was so.

I studied the following passage (ibid., pp. 476, 477): "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick."

The next day I understood the teacher's review of the material and did well on the exam. What was so wonderful, though, was that after class I heard several students remark on how clear the teacher's explanations had been. The teacher had not changed; it was my thought that had changed. Christian Science is indeed a practical religion for all walks of life.

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