Article August 7, 1948 Issue

CLAIMING OUR HERITAGE OF JOY

VERA D. BOTTING

What is happiness and where is it to be found? Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, tells us on page 57 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it." True happiness is understood only by spiritual sense, and its realization is never at the mercy of matter or material circumstances.

Mortals commonly believe that if they were to acquire worldly wealth or were located in a particular environment or business position, they would readily attain happiness. Many spend fruitless years toiling to this end, only to find that happiness, like a will-o'-the-wisp, has eluded them. Since happiness is "born of Truth and Love," which are synonyms for the one Mind, God, it is found only in God, not in any material place, person, or circumstance.

Even without an understanding of Christian Science one recognizes that happy people are usually those who are busy serving their fellow men in loving deeds. As Barrie put it. "Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." There is always sufficient happiness for everybody, since God is its inexhaustible source. We can all draw on this source at will and radiate the joy and well-being of eternal Life. We do not have to search frantically to find happiness, because it ever belongs to man, the reflection of God. Happiness is manifested in our human experience in the degree we understand this verity.

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