All human endeavor, whether it be in the line of science, art, or industry, is an effort to find satisfaction of some sort. Humanity has tried various ways and followed different human doctrines in its attempt to find satisfaction. Yet no human theory or teaching as to how to achieve perfect satisfaction has proved to be successful.

Nevertheless there is a way to fulfill this universal craving. The teachings of Christian Science not only show why the human search for satisfaction has been a failure, but also reveal the way to find true and continuous satisfaction. Throughout the ages, mortal man, in his search for happiness, has intuitively surmised the fact that true satisfaction is attainable and rightfully belongs to man.

Webster's dictionary defines "satisfy" in part as "to gratify fully... to make content." To find satisfaction, then, or that which satisfies, means to have all one's right desires and wishes gratified, fulfilled. Is such a thing possible? In the light of Christian Science we see not only that it is possible, but that man in his real, spiritual nature is always at the standpoint of satisfaction. In proportion as one awakens to this fact, his human experiences will be of a truly satisfying nature.

In our contemplation of man as eternally at the standpoint of satisfaction, three questions may be considered: What is man? What satisfies man? Why is true satisfaction everlasting?

In the Bible we read, "With all thy getting get understanding." To realize the great importance of this imperative admonition and to reach out for spiritual understanding are tasks abundantly rewarded. It is necessary to awaken from the soporific effect of blind belief, of mere superficial agreement with Truth, to a living understanding of spiritual being.

Understanding is not cold intellectualism, or a merely human knowing about the truth. It is the discernment of spiritual being. To make a statement of spiritual truth and to reason it out from the standpoint of Principle is to gain an increasing measure of spiritual perception and understanding— two things necessary for progress.

To the first question, "What is man?" Mary Baker Eddy has brought a clear answer on page 475 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." where she says: "Man is idea, the image, of Love; he is not physique. He is the compound idea of God including all right ideas; the generic term for all that reflects God's image and likeness; the conscious identity of being as found in Science in which man is the reflection of God, or Mind, and therefore is eternal; that which has no separate mind from God; that which has not a single quality underived from Deity; that which possesses no life, intelligence, nor creative power of his own, but reflects spiritually all that belongs to his Maker." As we ponder these statements and meditate upon them, our faith merges into spiritual understanding, and an invincible conviction of the power of Truth is wrought in our consciousness.

The question, "What satisfies man?" is also logically and authoritatively answered through a careful study of the Christian Science textbook. Let us ask ourselves. Could man, the image and likeness of God, ever include anything unlike good? No of course not. A true likeness expresses its original. Therefore only what God has, can satisfy man the image and likeness of Himself.

It further follows that if man reflects the fullness of God he expresses all the good there is. Can man, therefore, wish for or be in need of something else? Can he have any unfulfilled desires? Does not a wish or a need suggest the absence of something rather than the presence of allness?

Thus man, in the absolute sense, has no desires; he possesses the sense of satisfaction only. Fulfillment alone belongs to him. Love has from all eternity given man the power to reflect the infinite All.

In order to demonstrate or prove these facts fully, it is not enough to apply the truth only at a time of extreme emergency. In every situation which arises in our daily life we should with consistent certainty know that man has, in Truth, all the good he seems to lack according to the testimony of the material senses, and thus continually he abides in a state of satisfaction.

The Psalmist writes, "I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." Here we see that a full understanding of what man is, as the image of God, brings us also the realization that God, divine Love, alone satisfies man.

The answer to the third question, as to the lasting nature of satisfaction, becomes quite evident as we reason from a very simple standpoint, namely, that man reflects the divine substance, which is God. We know the nature of Spirit to be eternal, changeless, indestructible, perfect. Could man's being and state of satisfaction, therefore, ever be interrupted or disrupted? No, indeed. In the consciousness of ever-present good, satisfaction is complete and eternal. Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 470), "God is the creator of man, and, the divine Principle of man remaining perfect, the divine idea or reflection, man, remains perfect."

Thus, through spiritual perception, we see clearly that the state of true satisfaction rightfully and eternally belongs to man. We can rejoice in this glorious fact and praise God, divine Love, who has made us whole and complete, wanting nothing. As we realize this fact, we gain peace, poise, and satisfaction, and are able to demonstrate a truly satisfying unfoldment of harmonious human experiences.

Our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, writes (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 189), "When the human senses wake from their long slumber to see how soon earth's fables flee and faith grows wearisome, then that which defies decay and satisfies the immortal cravings is sought and found."