Is there one who is weary, bowed down with sorrow, struggling with discordant relationships, plagued by lack and limitation, ravaged by sickness or disease, or simply seeking a higher concept of the meaning of life? Then let him turn to God.

"But I have turned to God," one may say. "I've done all I know how to do." Yet the mere fact that inharmony, dissatisfaction, or sickness remains indicates that the turning has not been complete. Mrs. Eddy reminds us that "we are all capable of more than we do." ^{Science and Health, p. 89;}

Let us often ponder the word "turn" as we strive to put off materialistic thinking and living and assimilate spirituality. God is Spirit, and to turn to Him is to turn toward Spirit and away from matter with all that it includes. To turn means to change one's course or direction. How often thinking tends in the direction of matter and remains in the depths of poor health, an an unhappy home life, the apathy of materialistic ease, and other forms of error! Yet a turning from material thinking to the consistent contemplation of spiritual ideas and to living the truth would lift us out of these conditions, which are actually self-made.

"Do you not hear from all mankind of the imperfect model?" asks Mrs. Eddy. "The world is holding it before your gaze continually. The result is that you are liable to follow those lower patterns, limit your life-work, and adopt into your experience the angular outline and deformity of matter models." ^{p. 248 ;} Then she gives us this counsel: "To remedy this, we must first turn our gaze in the right direction, and then walk that way."

To turn to God, Spirit, it is of course necessary to turn from the belief that life, substance, and intelligence belong to matter. Through an increased understanding of God's presence and power one can empty his thought of fear, hatred, sensuality, and fill it with love, joy, and expectation of good. The constant meandering of thought toward wants and needs instead of consistent contemplation and affirmation of the completeness of man, as God, perfect good, has made him, stultifies growth and impedes progress. Keeping thought filled with gratitude for each unfolding step taken in solving a problem hastens fruition.

Christ Jesus' parable of the prodigal son, who left his father's house (where all good existed) to travel on the side streets of the belief of life in matter, is inspiring. How totally unsatisfactory this way of life proved to be! It is indicated that his thinking had sunk to the level of the swine, when a great awakening occurred and he said, "I will arise and go to my father." ^{Luke 15:18;} The account goes on to tell of the son's return and the joyous welcome he received.

A turning to God requires a preparation of the heart. One must be willing to trust God's infinite ability to bless. He must become humble enough to desire to be cleansed of all impure thought and childlike enough to be obedient to all the demands of Truth required for purification. The seeker should desire spiritualization of thought to the exclusion of all else. Praying for a deeper understanding of God will most assuredly turn us toward Him who is perpetually outpouring His blessings on His loved sons and daughters.

In reality we are all now, at this very moment, the sons and daughters of God. We have always had this loving Father, and we shall find ourselves abiding in His love as we turn from matter to His harmonious kingdom. It is the truth as exemplified by our dear Master, Christ Jesus, that turns us from material ways and means to a higher standpoint of living. Jesus permitted no carnal belief to turn him aside to ponder the delusions of an evil mind, a mind apart from God. Even as a child, he could reply to his parents, when they sought him as they journeyed from Jerusalem, "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" ^{2:49 .} He continued in this straight way of life in Spirit, God, never deviating from his course, ever conscious of his at-one-ment with his divine Father-Mother.

To our age and time Mrs. Eddy has revealed and charted for all time to come the spiritual path all must eventually take. The daily study of the Bible and Science and Health, the textbook of Christian Science by Mrs. Eddy, is vital to our recognition of the spiritual way, waking and turning us from the sense dream of life in matter to the reality of life in God.

A woman was in great physical discomfort because of severe throat inflammation. She had been unable to swallow liquids or solid food for several days, and was unable to speak except with extreme difficulty. A practitioner was working with this student of Christian Science, daily encouraging her to keep her thought turned to God. On the fifth day the patient called the practitioner and reported that she thought she knew what the disease was, a streptococcal infection. The practitioner asked her in tones of forceful disbelief, "Did God call it that?"

Abashed, the woman realized that she had not turned from what the material senses told her. In fact, she had been searching for a name for the ailment instead of keeping thought constantly in line with God, divine Principle, regardless of the labels human thought might supply. The healing began at that moment, and before the day had ended it was complete.

Are we daily turning to God for our sustenance, our health, our happiness, or are we seeking it in materiality? Are we making every effort to give up old unsettled grievances and to see our brother as he really is, or are we continuing to harbor resentment and ill will? If we are Christian Science church members, are we serving our branch church faithfully and supporting the broad work of The Mother Church, or have we become lukewarm, waiting for a more convenient time? Are we working and praying for the uplifting of all mankind, or are we engulfed in thoughts of self—self-pity, self-aggrandizement, self-love? Are we daily and faithfully studying the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings, or is our mental work haphazard and done after what we consider more pressing tasks have been accomplished? Each must ask himself these and many other similar questions to help determine whether or not he is truly turning to God and placing Him first in all his thoughts and acts.

Through prayer and diligent striving to walk in the footsteps of the Master, our step will grow lighter, our burdens will ease, good health will be evidenced, our blessings will multiply, our own lives will be enriched and the world benefited.