Rock music's continuing popularity and massive influence in shaping many standards and styles of our times have made it a phenomenon to be reckoned with. The deaths of some young people in a stampede for tickets prior to a rock concert in Ohio, and more recently the arrest in a Tokyo airport of a rock celebrity for alleged infringement of drug laws, have thrown a spotlight on the sometimes violent and drug-pervaded world of rock.

The influential nature of rock music can give fans and nonfans alike much food for thought. Perhaps the main questions we might ask ourselves in connection with this, or, for that matter, any form of entertainment is: To what extent do I place joy on the basis of emotional intensity and sensualism? Am I helping perpetuate the mortal—often sordid—view of man that so much of the rock industry depends on for a market and seeks to glamorize? Am I doing enough to provide sparkling proof of what real joy and freedom are all about?

This is not to say that discos, rock music, and rock concerts are necessarily evil and should be scratched off our agendas. Rock concerts may, for instance, sometimes be elevating, warmly communal events, in which the performers succeed in ministering, to some extent, to their listeners' yearning for beauty and meaning. On the other hand, the aim of many "gigs" is simply to whip the audience into a wild emotional release.

Our purpose should be to discern clearly whether or not an activity will bring out the best in us and to strive to place everything we do within a spiritual context. Mrs. Eddy writes, "Mortal mind is the harp of many strings, discoursing either discord or harmony according as the hand, which sweeps over it, is human or divine." ^{Science and Health, p. 213;} We need to make sure that the hand sweeping over our "harp" is divine.

Why? Because purity of desire is vital to freeing oneself from debasing mortal influences. Then, instead of being pulled about by physical or psychological hungers, we can view each entertainment option from a spiritually obedient standpoint and ask ourselves what God would have us to do. Allowing God to control our lives—even our tastes—helps open the world to the source of all authentic artistic expression: divine Love. Doing so, we find increasing evidence of the real perfection sparkling through every corner of our universe. And we find that our own purity and goodness are no longer a faint glimmer but shine brighter each day.

Our true identity is forever established in Soul, God. As people begin waking up to that identity, they find a sense of purpose and contentment that eliminates the need to look to rock performers or other celebrities for role models. An increasing certainty of the grandeur of one's being in God's likeness overshadows the fame, glamour, and emotional power many such individuals represent. Essentially, man's purpose is to glorify God, to reflect His qualities, Christian Science teaches. On the human scene this may express itself as being a creative designer, a faithful husband or wife, an honest accountant—or a rock musician. But the key element is the central role God plays in determining what we do with our lives.

Christ Jesus declared: "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" ^{Matt. 6:22, 23.} If we base our lives single-mindedly on God, looking always to Him for direction, every aspect of our experience is full of light. Not only will this light illumine our own path but its brilliance will uplift those around us, too.

Measuring every activity, every recreation, by this standard, we become more adept at choosing both the concepts on which we wish to model ourselves and the direction we look for happiness.

Through spiritual discrimination, our lives take on greater stability, and we are less and less manipulated by external forces. Then our inseparable unity with God, Principle, coupled with the tenderness of Love, will irresistibly emerge and bring the necessary balance of joy-giving activities to bless us and our fellows.