Shakespeare wrote, "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so" (Hamlet, Act II, scene 2). Clearly, the quality of our thought has great deal—in fact, everything—to do with the nature of our experience. It's vital, then, that our thoughts be conducive to harmony, that they be in accord with God, who is the very Principle of harmony.

A study of the Bible and its key, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy, reveals that as we spiritually understand God's true nature and the way He created man, as His spiritual image and likeness, we have a new model to pattern our thought and action after—a perfect model. Being faithful to this model has a healing, regenerative effect in our lives.

When we watch our thoughts and bring them into conformity with Truth's pattern—perfect God and perfect man—we begin to experience real progress. In Science and Health we read, "Immortal ideas, pure, perfect, and enduring, are transmitted by the divine Mind through divine Science, which corrects error with truth and demands spiritual thoughts, divine concepts, to the end that they may produce harmonious results" (p. 259).

If we're honest with ourselves, we find plenty to discard in the way of unproductive thought patterns, enough to keep us busy for a lifetime. But each facet of spiritual self-knowledge we gain along the way inspires us anew while it transforms our character and heals our body.

Scientific, inspired, original, pure thoughts, derived from God, are seen in tangible results—a more spiritual concept of ourselves and of our fellow beings, which leads to deeper love and compassion for others, progress in the healing of a troubled world, and a higher quality of living. St. Paul apparently found it inspiring and practical to entertain Godlike thoughts from the divine Mind. He said, "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Phil. 4:8).

Knowing that our consiousness truly reflects the one divine Mind, God, and that everything good is taking place in divine consciousness is enormously helpful. And it shows us that following Paul's counsel is natural. It enables us to have a real healing influence with regard to all kinds of things that clamor for our attention, and to find healing ourselves.

When I was a Christian Science chaplain, I visited prisons. A young man came to me who looked utterly miserable and neglected. His appearance suggested he didn't have an ounce of self-respect. But an issue of the Christian Science Sentinel that he had found and read made him so curious that he came to a Christian Science meeting in the prison and asked me if I would show him how to heal. He said that was the one thing he needed most—to know how to heal himself. I gave him a Bible and a copy of Science and Health. From those two books he began to learn how to identify himself as a perfect child of God. He came to see that the source of authentic thought is God, and that because there is only one God, one Mind, this Mind has to be man's Mind.

It was no surprise that one day the young man said everything looked very different to him—even the camp appeared cleaner. He was thinking differently about himself, and he had a decidedly cleaner and happier appearance. And his improved sense of himself spilled over into the way he saw and trusted his fellowman. He started to apply what he had learned about God and man in his study of Christian Science. He discovered what effective prayer is and how it heals. He had realized something of the redeeming power and the tangible spiritual regeneration that Christ, Truth, brings to thought. He was thinking more consistently about himself as God's reflection, and because of this he experienced healing. He eagerly shared with others what he was learning. And a few months later he was released from prison—much earlier than he had been scheduled for release.

To me, this was a wonderful example of the relationship of thought to experience, and of how spiritualized thought brings tangible blessings. Also, the practicality of what this young man had learned through Christian Science kept him interested. He left the prison with a Bible, a copy of Science and Health, and in his pocket the address of a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, in his hometown, He was truly a changed man.

God's thoughts heal. Materialistic thoughts of hatred, envy, impurity, dishonesty, fear, and so forth seem to hide the good, the joy and happiness, that are already abundantly present in God and His spiritual creation. But they have no actual, God-derived power or influence. We give them the only power they seem to have. Spiritual thoughts bless us and all on whom they rest.

Christian Science provides logical and satisfying answers to our inherent need to find our true selfhood, our spirituality in Christ. It reveals the goodness of all that truly is, and establishes in thought our worthiness as God's reflection. Christ Jesus consistently identified God as his source. He said, for example, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do" (John 5:19). The Master understood that man's true nature is derived from God and therefore expresses the perfection of the creator. This spiritual understanding enabled him to heal those who came to seek his help. And he expected us to be able to heal others through the understanding of our own unity with God.

Through prayer, in which we yield to the one Mind and its pure thoughts, we honor God and love our fellowman. Christ, the divine influence in human thought, frees us from egotistical, overly sensitive, unkind, and self-destructive traits, and anchors our thought in Truth. Fresh, vital, and clear thoughts—spiritually refreshing thoughts—are winged with inspiration. They reveal what God, divine Love, knows of us, reveal that He delights in us as His spiritual idea. And the more we listen to God to discover our true identity made in His likeness, the more the true goodness of divine reality becomes concrete to us.

This growing understanding is felt by others; it helps them discern more of their own inherent goodness. This blessed way of sharing Christian Science—in purified, spiritualized thinking—enriches our experiences and keeps us on a consistently progressive course of spiritual healing.