Article December 24, 1955 Issue

TRUE CONTENTMENT AND SATISFACTION

FRANCES B. EDMONDSON

To be content implies that one has arrived at a point where he is undisturbed by a desire for what he does not have, even though his wishes have not been completely gratified. To be satisfied implies that one has had his desires fully appeased. Contentment may be attained through controlling desire and renouncing what is unattainable. This does not necessarily entail stagnation, for we may be content with progress and with making the most of what we know and are today.

Mary Baker Eddy gives us this rule in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 195): "We must resign with good grace what we are denied, and press on with what we are, for we cannot do more than we are nor understand what is not ripening in us. To do good to all because we love all, and to use in God's service the one talent that we all have, is our only means of adding to that talent and the best way to silence a deep discontent with our shortcomings."

The student of Christian Science soon learns the wisdom of spiritualizing his desires and allowing God to exalt and fulfill them. The desire for material things or for fame and popularity feeds upon itself. It is a devouring flame which demands more and more and is never satisfied, for that which it receives, it consumes. The Bible tells us plainly (Prov. 27:20), "Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied."

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