Every one is looking for happiness. It is something for which each is seeking in everything he undertakes. In his business or in his profession he is striving for success, perhaps planning to amass a fortune, because he thinks it will bring him happiness. He seeks for happiness during his recreation hours in the pleasures of the world, only to ascertain that it cannot be found there. In the past, humanity generally has been searching for happiness in material things,—in the things of matter instead of Spirit; and it is slowly awakening to realize the truth of the words of the great Preacher when he spoke of matter thus: "All is vanity and vexation of spirit."

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 57), Mrs. Eddy says: "Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it." One student of Christian Science gained a deeper sense of the meaning of this passage through an experience which came to her one summer. She had been struggling for a number of weeks with a problem, and it seemed to her that she could never be truly happy until this problem was satisfactorily solved. Later she spent a number of weeks in a cabin in a beautiful spot in the heart of the mountains, where hours each day were given to studying and pondering the Word of God. She had not been happy at home, though surrounded with every material comfort. In this primitive mountain cabin, however, deprived of many of the things which we call comforts, she was very happy. Then she saw, as never before, that happiness is truly spiritual, "born of Truth and Love,"—that true joy and peace can be found only in the things of God.

Material riches and worldly pleasures do not bring happiness. Neither is happiness dependent upon personality, or place, or thing. Joy and contentment are wholly within; they are not dependent upon outward conditions. When we believe that certain material circumstances can make us unhappy, they may seem to do so until our thought is changed regarding them. When the light of Truth comes to our consciousness and pierces the darkness of mortal belief, we begin to see that happiness is spiritual; that as the children of God, it is our divine right, our heaven-bestowed heritage; and then comes the realization that we may be happy at all times and under all circumstances. Material things are not real and substantial; and the pleasures they bring are but fleeting dream-shadows: while spiritual things, the things of God, are substantial and enduring; and they alone can bring true contentment and peace.

Another helpful lesson was learned through this mountain experience,—the lesson of obedience. In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 149), our Leader says: "Remember, thou canst be brought into no condition, be it ever so severe, where Love has not been before thee and where its tender lesson is not awaiting thee. Therefore despair not nor murmur, for that which seeketh to save, to heal, and to deliver, will guide thee, if thou seekest this guidance." This student thought she was obedient to the demands of God; but when she examined her mental home, she found that she had been almost unconsciously outlining her career, instead of joyfully following the leading of divine Love. When she remembered that "all things work together for good to them that love God," and could honestly say, "Not my will, but thine, be done," she found that divine Love had truly been before her, and that God's way leads to peace and happiness.

We are not always willing to learn the lessons of Love's teaching, to follow the straight and narrow way which leads out of the valley of material beliefs, with its sorrow and suffering, up to the mountain top of spiritual joy and harmony. The way may seem rugged and steep at times, and we may encounter rocks and obstructions in our path; but it is only by surmounting these and keeping in the narrow way that we can ever reach our goal and receive the blessings which come to us through obedience. When we put our own wishes and desires completely out of thought, allowing God's will to be done, we shall experience the truth of these words of Scripture: "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

True happiness is always unselfish. When we get a glimpse of what constitutes real happiness, there is born within us a desire to share it with all mankind, to bring into the lives of those with whom we come in contact some meas ure of the joy which has become ours. The more understanding we gain of the God who is unchanging Love, and of man as His image and likeness, the more we love our fellow-man and the greater is our desire to share with him our blessings. Nothing else can bring the satisfaction which comes from the knowledge that we have been able to reflect divine Love to one of His children. The heart that is filled with love for God and man naturally expresses the attributes of divine Love.

Some one may think that he has very little in his life to make him happy. Let him remember that all good is already man's. The Scripture says, "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom;" and, "God is no respecter of persons." God loves one child just as much as another. He has given the same blessings, the same joys, the same happiness, the same opportunities for good, to all of His children. When we are suffering from a belief of sickness, we do not say that we expect to be well sometime; but we strive to realize that perfect health has always been the heritage of every child of God, and that consequently it is already ours for the accepting. So it is with happiness. It is our divine right; and by claiming the happiness, the joy, the good, which has been man's from all eternity, we help to bring it into our experience.