We hear much today about the spiritual hunger that is showing up in many areas of our society. Substance abuse, with its accompanying crime, bears witness to a certain fatal emptiness in our culture. A more positive side of this hunger is shown in the thousands who are flocking to bookstores, seeking explanations, and perhaps a cure, for the vacuum within.

Some years ago the expression identity crisis was used to describe similar longings and a pervading unease. Both concepts reveal a deep dissatisfaction in the human spirit. But they also point the way to healing. Spiritual hunger is satisfied by God, Spirit; true identity is found through Truth, Christ. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35).

Jesus was a perfect example of one who was constantly spiritually well nourished. He had all the ability, inspiration, and understanding to overcome every difficulty, whether presented to him by others or by challenges in his own life. As the Bible tells us, he sometimes left the daily earthly routine to be fed with bread from heaven, but there is no account of his ever being unequal to the task at hand.

Jesus well knew why he was on earth. He came to reveal the kingdom of heaven, to help starved earthlings live abundant lives, to give rest to the burdened, to heal sickness, to destroy sin, to overcome death. Can anyone doubt the satisfying success of the Master's mission? No wonder in speaking of himself he could say that he was the bread of life; his career proved him to be the very substance of active good. Yet he always humbly glorified God, saying he could do nothing of himself.

Exalting God in this way brings satisfaction. Placing too much praise and honor on personal achievements does not. This often leads to a demand for ever-increasing accomplishments, as it opens the door to jealousy and unhealthy competition. Far from satisfying the deep yearnings of the heart, these states of thought incite mounting dissatisfaction. Jesus always turned the attention given his wonderful acts to God, whom he recognized as the sole source of all good. As we do this regarding small and large achievements, of ourselves and others, we keep the door open for satisfying progress.

Such placing of credit where credit is really due constantly turns us to our source, and thus we find our true, spiritual identity. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians declares: "... know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (6:19, 20). Are we not glorifying God in our body and spirit when we seek to express His qualities in everyday living? Love reflected in acts of genuine kindness, Soul expressed in looking beyond the personal sense of another to his or her beautiful identity, Principle perceived as the basis of all interactions—such glorifying of God satisfies spiritual hunger and nourishes us.

It is unrealistic to think that mankind's hunger for spirituality, or our own, will be satisfied immediately and for all time. We read in Hebrews, "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (10:36). As physical hunger is usually satisfied several times a day, so we should give regular attention to our spiritual needs. Listening for and following inspiration and direction, in even the most mundane of daily tasks, provide a constant supply of spiritual nourishment.

A verse from a poem by Mary Baker Eddy states:

(Poems, p. 79)

The more consistently we seek and do the will of God, the nearer we approach our true selfhood, the image and likeness of our own Father-Mother God. Our natural awe-filled respect for God frees us from the temptation to do anything contrary to what we perceive as His direction. We recognize any rush of self-will as foreign to our true identity.

Each day we are literally, spiritually fed by the good we do. This is also the way of finding our true identity, for we can only give what we have within us. Many have found that the most demanding situations have brought out strengths and qualities they didn't know they possessed. Such occasions awaken us to exceed limitations and boundaries we have placed on ourselves.

We can expect centuries-old limitations placed on mankind's capacity to love to break up and dissolve. Racial hatreds, tribalism, selfishness, and sensuality naturally give way to spiritual enlightenment. Thus the hunger engendered by these states of thought and the actions ensuing from them will be assuaged.

Hidden hunger, as well as the most obvious, in ourselves and in society at large is being satisfied. Jesus' promise quoted earlier, that those who come to Christ will never hunger, is being fulfilled. Until that prophecy is fully and finally fulfilled, we can continue to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," and let our nourished affections overflow.

So how is spiritual hunger satisfied? In finding out what is in our true being—and using these qualities in God's service.