Undisguised affection is one of the world's great yearnings, for there are very few people who feel they no longer need to relate to others. Countless numbers hunger for a friendly look, a sympathetic word, an arm around the shoulder—literally, as well as figuratively. When we know we are loved, we can do almost anything, face just about anything. Human affection that is spiritually based is derived from divine Love, and the world cannot do without it.

How many of us can say to ourselves with conviction, "God loves me; so I feel whole and complete and fulfilled"? One who is climbing the first rungs of the ladder of spiritual understanding may not have got that far yet. While learning to grow spiritually, the individual wants and needs concrete evidence of God's love in his everyday life—sincere love that one can warm to, respond to, be embraced by.

True religion, active Christianity, is not merely a cold, cerebral exercise. Unless we are bringing out in our own lives and the lives of others some of the intelligence, goodness, and love of God, we have not really discovered our own true, spiritual selfhood. We don't live in a floating vacuum of some kind of vague perfection and holiness. Man, in truth, is the likeness of God. This has been said millions of times, but what does it mean? It means that man reflects his Maker—divine Truth, Love—in everything. It means that we have to perceive this identity of ours and actively and consciously make it evident in our human, everyday contact with others.

A friend who is a Christian Scientist told about the time he and his very young son were on an automobile trip, and the child became ill. The father persistently declared the truth of being, divine Love's presence, and the perfection of man, but the child did not improve. Finally he joined his son in the back seat and took the child in his arms and cuddled him, all the while deeply conscious of one thing —the irresistible healing power of God. Not surprisingly, the boy responded to this treatment and he was healed. The experience taught the father a valuable lesson.

Although it is true that illness, disease, grief, and other deeply upsetting problems cannot be simply cuddled away, it is nonetheless important to understand and remember that coldness or aloofness has no kinship with divine Love. Mrs. Eddy had no patience with callousness among her followers; she often urged them to be compassionate and understanding. She wrote, "The tender word and Christian encouragement of an invalid, pitiful patience with his fears and the removal of them, are better than hecatombs of gushing theories, stereotyped borrowed speeches, and the doling of arguments, which are but so many parodies on legitimate Christian Science, aflame with divine Love." ^{Science and Health, p. 367;}

Prayer has to be backed up with positive action. Prayer should make us more tender, more responsive to and more understanding of the needs of our fellowmen. There is a tendency sometimes to downgrade the value of human kindness and affection. But those who are sick or frightened or discouraged or old or friendless—any of those multitudes living out lives that yearn for love with almost every breath—cannot be helped by lofty platitudes dispensed from an ivory tower. They need evidence of our real concern for them, for without this evidence it is very difficult for them to feel loved. Insofar as human affection is based on spiritual values, on unselfish love, wisdom, purity, and a deep consciousness of God's goodness and man's inseparable unity with Him, will it be effective—encouraging and promoting spiritual growth in all concerned.

Christ Jesus, the most compassionate of men, was quick to give comfort and assurance to those who needed it. "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of," he said, "before ye ask him." ^{Matt. 6:8;} Love was the basis of his whole earthly mission. Mrs. Eddy says, "The divinity of the Christ was made manifest in the humanity of Jesus." ^{Science and Health, p. 25.} Is it being made manifest in our humanity?

The affections need to be sustained with the truth of spiritual being, which proclaims God's love exalting every part of His creation. His universe is not mindless matter, revolving, rotating, and tumbling in upon itself. God's universe is wholly spiritual—His expression of Himself. And man, because he is made by God, cannot express anything but the divine nature.

We need to pray for ourselves so that we not only are spiritually fed but can share that divine nourishment with those less fortunate —those who are finding the going difficult and whose understanding of God and of man's perfect unity with Love is still inadequate to bring them the comfort and confidence to go further. This is where those who have gained a clearer vision and a more constant consciousness of God's great love can help.

God did not make us to ruminate on love, or to pontificate on it, or to talk it into oblivion. He made us to live it.