Article April 19, 1947 Issue

A Word About Our Aspirations

CATHERINE E. IRVINE

Human longing is often born of dissatisfaction with a present state of progress. Many believe that material attainments and pleasures bring satisfaction, and aspire to these. Experience has taught still others that the world has nothing to offer that can equal or even compare with the satisfaction derived from serving God. One dictionary definition of satisfaction is atonement. This meaning coincides with the teaching of Christian Science that satisfaction does not mean apathetic contentment or the gratification of personal sense, but rather at-one-ment with God, good, the source and satisfier of all right desire. Both discontent and material ambition with its resulting dissatisfactions stem from self-will, or insubordination to the will of God. True satisfaction is found only in obedience to the demands of Spirit.

Suffering the disappointments of mortal mind's dead-end streets, where we always have to retrace our steps to find the way out, we come sooner or later to an understanding of the words of our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 281): "I learned long ago that the world could neither deprive me of something nor give me anything, and I have now one ambition and one joy. But if one cherishes ambition unwisely, one will be chastened for it." The so-called human mind, which is the supposititious opposite of divine Mind, is mesmerized with the sense of lack. It follows the will-o'-the-wisp of its own empty illusions, vainly hoping to find that which satisfies. But acquisition of the things mortals so eagerly pursue brings no permanent happiness. Happiness results from the spiritual understanding that all good belongs to God and is ours and everyone's only as we accept and reflect it.

The most truly joyful and famous man of whom history has any record was the humble Christ Jesus, of whose appearing the prophet said (Isa. 53:2), "He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." What he had to give, the carnal mind could not value. But he was not concerned over the approval of the world. His one ambition was to glorify God, and his desire was fulfilled in the healing influence of divine Love which was seen and felt wherever he went. The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science manifested the same consecration to good, and experienced similar spiritual rewards.

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