"One innate joy"

HAZEL E. ECKHART

Joy is an ever-present characteristic of real being, for it is of God. It is not dependent on any condition or environment, nor predicated upon any other mental attribute. It is, because God, good, is.

Let us, then, individually look to our true sense of joy! When we are lovingly, spiritually, wisely joyous the subtle, obstructive arguments of error can no more find an abiding place in our thinking than darkness can remain in a room flooded with light. When joy is spiritually perceived and actually exercised, it is found to be a living function in consciousness which nothing can still. Its vitalizing radiance reaches down to the depths of despair and lifts one's consciousness to the heights and activity of Love The Master's promise stands forever true: "Your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."

One midafternoon, while riding home at the close of the day's business activities, a Christian Scientist became aware of a profound, quiet realization of joy. With a touch of surprise, she began to search for a reason. There had been for some time no change in her environment or in the circumstances of her life. The day itself had brought much responsibility, some new problems, and a desk unusually laden with work. There had been no depression or anxiety. Yet, she concluded, neither had there been any special occasion for the joy she was experiencing.

The homeward ride led along a great lake, whose rolling blue-green waters were inspiringly beautiful in the golden sunshine. Incidentally appreciative of this beauty, her cogitations about joy progressed. Suddenly came this illuminated train of thought: Why, joy is steadfast, true, like honesty or truthfulness! Joy is a constant, innate spiritual quality, which is never absent, for it is of Truth, God. It is not an external condition to be taken on or put off in response to exterior stimuli. Even as truth and honesty are maintained, so in Science joy is spiritually maintained under all conditions and in the face of all circumstances. If one found hinself in the midst of apparent untruthfulness, he would not become untruthful; or in the midst of dishonesty, he would not be dishonest because those about him seemed to be so. Similarly, then, no mortal beliefs of loss, repression, or oppressive circumstances of any kind could actually afect the irresistible current of one's divinely reflected joy.

We accept truth and honesty as innate qualities of thought to be expressed in action. We may reflect these Godlike qualities as naturally as we accept the sunshine, without questioning. Just so, then, must we accept and claim our joy. It is a part of man's sonship with God. It is innate. When we gratefully acknowledge this spiritual fact and perpetually hold this conviction in thought, nothing can dispossess us of our joy.

In her published writings our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has much to tell us about joy. On one occasion, when speaking of true worship, she said, "I have one innate joy, and love to breathe it to the breeze as God'scourtesy" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 341). To know this joy and to breathe it forth to a waiting world in the midst of discord and grievous material conditions, or under the stress of worldly pleasures, uplifts human consciousness. Thus winged with "God's courtesy" consciousness rises to higher and still higher altitudes, and new and unexpected outward proofs of the harmonizing power of true joy inevitably bless our individual experience.

Joy is at our constant, instant disposal. The heavier the demands made upon it the more abundantly it pours forth its blessings. It is capable of no cessation and knows no lack, since, like truth, honesty, wisdom, love, justice, its source is inexhaustible; for joy as a "perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." This quality is to be used, to be exhaled to all mankind, and exemplified during each hour of life's apparent night or day. Joy is ours, given to us of God, "richly . . . to enjoy."

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