Looking through his office window, a student of Christian Science enjoyed the view of the ocean, the blue sky of the summer day, and the palm trees on the shore. There were ships and smaller boats in the distance. But just beyond was a limit to the view in what we call the horizon. We know, however, that when we approach the place where the horizon seems to be, it always recedes and can never be reached; and the original boundary it seemed to form disappears.

Just as the horizon on the physical landscape limits the ocean to our view, so sometimes there seems to be a mental horizon temporarily hiding progress or legitimate advancement in human affairs. But just as no horizon can bound the ocean, so no material conditions can form a boundary for or limit the expression of divine activity in human affairs.

Today many young people feel that there is a narrow horizon limiting their future progress and activity. Many feel that military service demands years of time they had hoped to put to other purposes. Others find that the work for which they have been trained is no longer needed on account of the rapid changes which are being brought about by scientific discovery. Changing economy in the nations of the world interferes with human progress along some lines, and often conditions in the home or other personal circumstances prevent advancement in various ways.

Those who are studying Christian Science and daily practicing its teachings are learning something of the boundless resources of the ever-available divine Mind. Through this teaching it is found that every so-called limiting horizon recedes and boundless opportunity to progress appears. However, just as the visual horizon on the landscape recedes only as we go forward, so limitation of all kinds vanishes only as we advance spiritually.

Included in the published works of the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, is a book entitled "Pulpit and Press." Its teachings have helped many to see the apparent horizons of limitation vanish. It tells joyously of the achievement of the building of the Original Mother Church, a vision realized through the overcoming of many difficulties and obstacles in the human experience. Patience, persistence, and constant prayer for divine direction resulted in the consummation of a great human undertaking. Surely there were no limiting horizons in our Leader's thought. She writes (Pulpit and Press, p. 3), "Can Love be less than boundless?"

A young man moved with his family to another country to do some specialized work for which he had been trained. Soon after this move the work to which he had been assigned was terminated, a more modern process having superseded the one for which he was employed.

He and his wife were students of Christian Science. Instead of accepting a horizon which could apparently limit activity and success, they prayed for divine guidance. They studied the Lesson-Sermons in the Christian Science Quarterly, looking for and expecting constructive spiritual ideas as a result of their work.

Soon this young man was led to make inquiry of another firm, which, he found, was still making use of the method with which he was familiar. This firm was happy to avail itself of his experience. He also began to find that he had much to contribute along other lines to the people of this other country, and he found his interests extending fruitfully in many directions. Thus human advancement and usefulness accompanied his advancing spiritual understanding of God and man.

We know that the ocean extends far beyond any appearance of a horizon. We can be far more sure of the boundlessness of God and His infinite love and provision for us, despite any appearance of an intruding horizon. We need not sit still and gaze sadly at so-called limits; we must lift our vision and our thought into the kingdom of heaven, divine Love.

Since God is wholly spiritual, His activity cannot be affected or interfered with by any limiting human situation. As this is understood and realized, whatever seems to limit perception or experience will be seen to vanish in proportion as one advances spiritually. To advance spiritually means to grow increasingly conscious of our nearness to God by striving to understand Him better and to express more Godlike qualities, especially universal love. It means not only to read the Bible and the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, but to ponder what one reads. It is sometimes helpful to ask oneself questions about what one is reading and to apply what is read specifically to oneself. The truths in the Bible and the Christian Science textbook are not mere abstractions, but vital facts, which are provable when they are properly digested and assimilated.

Spiritual vision and its realization are infinite. The divinely continuous activity of Principle, God, presents divinely continuous spiritual vision, where there is no limiting horizon. These truths established in human consciousness will be found externalizing themselves in one's human experience as larger opportunities, higher and more permanent joys, and boundless progress.

Another thing is often noticed about the horizon that seems to indicate the end of the ocean. When the day is clear and sunny, the horizon seems to be a long way off. If the day is cloudy the horizon seems to be much nearer. On foggy days there seems to be no ocean at all.

Humanly, we are tempted to believe that some days are different from others: some seem to present near and some far horizons or bounds, and some seem to have little or no view of the radiance of God's presence. How reassuring it is to know that we can instantly claim dominion over such changeableness and think in divinely scientific terms of one unchanging God and His immutable universe, with immediate results in our own human experience and that of others.

The Apostle Paul in his various letters to the churches, as recorded in the New Testament, teaches much about the correct way to think in order to progress spiritually and to be well, happy, and prosperous in whatever right activity one undertakes. Well known and greatly loved are Paul's words found in Philippians (4:8): "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Those who have followed this instruction have found limitations loosed and vision cleared to advance and enjoy God's infinite plan for His children.