An individual transposes figures in his check register, and the result is an overdraft to his account. A seamstress measures incorrectly, and cannot complete the garment for lack of material. A cook leaves out the leavening agent, and the cake never rises. The common failing here is the absence of an important quality—accuracy.

These examples, as well as others that may have occurred in our lives, hint of a deeper need: that of better knowing and demonstrating the divine Principle which creates and governs all.

Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered and founded Christian Science, valued accuracy and expressed it. The Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, is an example. Her words are not superfluous, nor out of balance. They are precise in their placement and meaning.

Mrs. Eddy took no personal credit for this fact. ^{See Miscellaneous Writings 311:26-29 .} She felt she was divinely impelled to write what she did and as she did. Her perception of God as divine Principle, governing and controlling all, enabled her to demonstrate and share with the world a scientific, exact healing method. "The divine Principle, or Life," she writes in Science and Health, "cannot be practically demonstrated in length of days, as it was by the patriarchs, unless its Science be accurately stated." ^{Science and Health, p. 283.}

This statement hints at Mrs. Eddy's vision of prayer and healing. Prayer in Christian Science is based on an understanding of the one undeviating Principle, God, and of man as His image or likeness. Precision and exactness are derived from this Principle, and so they are qualities that have a recognizable role in evangelizing human consciousness.

In these fast-moving times, it can be tempting to be slapdash in our efforts to progress spiritually. But when we consciously turn to our Father, Mind, to direct and govern each moment of our day, our effectiveness inevitably increases. And we often find that others respect the results instead of misunderstanding or resenting the change in us.

In her description of man Mrs. Eddy uses the phrase "that which has not a single quality underived from Deity." ^{Ibid., p. 475.} Anything erroneous (inconsistency, inaccuracy) is not derived from God, Principle. We need to relinquish willingly any view of man (ourselves and others) that would argue for error of any kind.

Relinquishment of mortal-mindedness begins with prayer. This is why Christian Scientists often begin their day with quiet study of the Bible and Science and Health as well as ample time for prayer.

The results of such a period of preparation are as varied as human need: order may be established in a home or business, education may become more productive, items be located, chronic health problems replaced by permanent well-being. Solutions to even the knottiest problems appear when we begin with an accurate assessment of man's identity as the child of God, the one perfect One. But the purpose of prayer is always to know and understand God and to obey Christ, Truth.

Man is image, perfect likeness, not because he ought to be to please others, nor because he will be punished if he does not comply with Truth or Principle, but simply because it is his nature to express his creator exactly. Man can't help being what God makes him to be.

It is natural for God's man to view everything with spiritual sense. He sees things only as they really are—perfect. To do otherwise would resist the natural order of creation and would present us with the ugly, frightening picture of mortal existence and the resulting deterioration and death.

As a young woman I became very much impressed with material conditions. Though I had regularly attended the Christian Science Sunday School from an early age, I had not clearly perceived my real nature as a spiritual idea. I left Christian Science at about the time I entered high school.

As the years went by, there seemed to be a disproportionate amount of failing and quitting in my experience, but not until my health gave way was I forced to review the situation.

Those compassionate individuals from whom I sought medical help were at a complete loss, and could neither satisfactorily diagnose nor cure me of a severe respiratory problem. They were looking at me from a material viewpoint and couldn't see the real me!

In despair I canceled my next appointment with a medical specialist and vowed not to return to this method even though I didn't think I had an alternative. Yet within minutes of the decision I was impelled to go to the attic in search of a copy of Science and Health my parents had given me. In all the years since high school I'd never opened this book. Now, reaching out for a higher solution, I was receptive to divine Mind's leading, and the book was in the first place I looked.

With that trip up the stairs, my life began to come back into focus. What I have learned through the study of Christian Science in the years since then has radically reversed my view of individuality and reality.

My healing was not quick. I needed to do a good deal of sharpening and focusing on the spiritual facts of man's identity. But the complete healing did come, and it came so like a dawn that I really don't know the exact moment it arrived. As my capacity to think more accurately, more spiritually, about man has increased through regular prayer and study of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings, more of the true picture has come to light. Improved productivity, a more complete and harmonious home and family, and a genuine commitment to good have been the practical results. And there have been many other healings.

In her reminiscences of our Leader, one worker in Mrs. Eddy's household described the degree of exactness demanded of the workers there, and the reasons for this demand. Martha Wilcox wrote, "Mrs. Eddy believed that if one's thought was not orderly and exact in the things that make up present consciousness, that same thought would not be exact enough to give a treatment or use an exact science." ^{We Knew Mary Baker Eddy (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1979), p. 201 .}

This quality of exactness can be seen as a basic precept of Christian Science. The perfection of Spirit and Spirit's idea, man, is visible in our lives to the degree that we refuse to deviate in thought or deed from the Principle of all real being. It requires steadfast holding to this precept to correct the suggestions that claim man has a nature contrary to God's. But the Apostle Paul assures us of the results in his letter to the Christians at Rome: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ... The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." ^{Rom. 8:1,16.}

When holding steadfast seems hard or subject to interruption—or when one sees himself or another as resistant to this corrective acknowledgment—a deep realization that God, good, creates and maintains all real being can restore confidence in the efficacy of accurate, healing prayer.

God, the original, is reflected exactly by His idea, man. Just as a mirror reflects accurately that which is presented to its surface, so man, the reflection of God, expresses exactly what his creator is—incorporeal, substantial, indestructible, perfect Spirit.

We can demonstrate perfection by beginning with what we do understand, and building on our present demonstration. Taking steps to maintain an accurate, spiritual view of one's experience by thinking, acting, and speaking according to divine Principle may seem rigorous. Yet solid comfort for this undertaking is given in Christ Jesus' words "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." ^{Luke 11:9, 10.}

We can trust our loving Father-Mother God to support our steps in this endeavor. It is His nature to love what He creates, and His love is effectual. As Mrs. Eddy tells us: "Whoever would demonstrate the healing of Christian Science must abide strictly by its rules, heed every statement, and advance from the rudiments laid down. There is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way is pointed out; but self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life."^{Science and Health, p. 462.}