Some years ago I was hurrying to catch a train, and as I drove up to the station, I was amazed to see the train pulling out. I checked my watch, as well as the station clock, and I was five minutes early. I looked at the train again, and it was standing still. What had happened was that the freight cars on the next track were being backed away, and from my viewpoint in a moving auto, everything, including the freight train, appeared to be standing still, while my train appeared to be moving forward.

Material objects are not always doing what they appear to be doing. In fact, matter itself is not necessarily what it seems to be. The viewpoint of the observer and the method of observation can result in dramatic differences in what is observed. For example, observation with the naked eye may record a solid piece of metal. Observation with the aid of an electronic microscope may reveal a system of moving particles. And one accustomed to viewing matter through what he learns from instruments and mathematical calculations may see the same piece of metal as forces acting in a distinct pattern. But there is still another way to look at matter.

Christian Science declares matter to be mental, the subject and object of mortal mind. It explains mortal mind—which we see as the minds of mortals—as the suppositional opposite of the divine, creative Mind, God. The many personal minds are many instances of the one mortal mind, and the many material things and circumstances we seem to experience are the objects of mortal mind's dream of itself. In the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, the author, Mary Baker Eddy, writes: "What are termed natural science and material laws are the objective states of mortal mind. The physical universe expresses the conscious and unconscious thoughts of mortals." ^{Science and Health, p. 484;}

She also says, "Usage classes both evil and good together as mind; therefore, to be understood, the author calls sick and sinful humanity mortal mind,—meaning by this term the flesh opposed to Spirit, the human mind and evil in contradistinction to the divine Mind, or Truth and good." ^{p. 114;} And further down on the same page, "Science shows that what is termed matter is but the subjective state of what is termed by the author mortal mind."

Spirit, the divine Mind, knows no matter. Man, the idea or reflection of Spirit, knows no matter. We seem to experience matter because of the false beliefs of mortal mind, and these beliefs appear to include us as material beings.

All false beliefs deceive those who entertain them. We are limited and subject to material conditions only to the extent that we are deceived by mortal mind and entertain the beliefs that make up our supposed life in matter.

The Bible records the history of people who believed in God. Their triumphs were basically triumphs over the belief in matter and material laws. As they lifted their thoughts to the reality of an invisible, infinite God, they bore witness, in some degree, to the supremacy of the divine Mind over mortal mind.

The result was matter yielding to Spirit. The Red Sea parted for Moses and the Israelites to cross. Elisha was protected by chariots of fire. Christ Jesus proved again and again that material conditions had no reality. Matthew records, "They brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them." ^{Matt. 4:24.}

In every instance, what matter seems to be doing is not what it is doing at all. The Red Sea seemed to be a physical obstruction; actually it was a mental object, and faith in the divine Mind overruled the mentality that saw it as an obstruction. The enemy forces surrounding Elisha seemed to be material personalities with material weapons; actually they were mental manifestations of the belief in minds and powers other than the infinite Mind. Elisha's understanding of God nullified the false manifestations in a way that could be seen. The diseases that presented themselves to Jesus were not material conditions but suggestions of mortal mind. Jesus knew this, and he knew that only the divine Mind had power. The diseases then proved themselves to be what they really were—nothing at all. Man is always the perfect idea of divine Mind. He is never sick.

The material picture, whatever it may appear to be, can always be improved by seeing it in a better light. And when we see it as it actually is, we see the nothingness of matter and the allness of Mind. Through Christian Science we can do this by degrees, each day facing the suggestions of mortal mind and overcoming them with the truths of immortal Mind. The result is healing.

Carl J. Welz