Article December 9, 1944 Issue

True Happiness

GRACE B. LONGSTAFF

True happiness does not consist in the acquiring of some prized possession, in the seeking of personal gain, but rather in the sharing with others of the good that we possess. Jesus said to his disciples, "I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." It was this ability to share the good which he knew that made Jesus the great Way shower of happiness. "Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love," writes Mary Baker Eddy on page 57 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." And she adds, "It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it."

The spiritual awareness expressed in the unselfishness of Jesus afforded him countless occasions to heal and bless. At one time when the Master was in the midst of a great crowd he turned to his disciples and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" It was plain to Jesus that someone had reached out for healing, but the disciples, who lacked his spiritual discernment, answered, "Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?" However, the Bible goes on to record that the woman came forth out of the crowd and acknowledged her healing. Ever conscious of humanity's need, even in this throng that pressed him on every side, he had felt the reaching out of this woman for the truth. The same longing for healing, for comfort, for a word of cheer is near us as we walk with men, but are we aware of it as was Christ Jesus?

If we become more alert to our brother's need, there will never be a lost opportunity for a smile, a word of comfort or encouragement. We shall feel the touch of the hungry heart that reaches out to us. Sometimes in our homes or offices we become so engrossed with our duties that we do not cultivate this spiritual awareness. We become callous to our brother's needs. We find ourselves cluttered with selfish routine, and then wonder why we are unhappy.

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