THE opportunities to practice Christian Science are numberless, and they include mankind's relation to every creature. These opportunities are not limited by time, place, or the position of the student. Failure to see beyond the presure of material tasks, or lack of preparation to do the required work, sometimes may obscure the vision; but one who is seeking faithfully to prove the nothingness of disease, sin, or inharmony certainly will find the opportunity right where he is. Our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, tells us in "Pulpit and Press" (p. 15), "Know thyself, and God will supply the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over evil."

Since healing the sick and the sinning is the proof of individual growth in the knowledge and understanding of God, and since universal recognition of the kingdom of heaven on earth is advanced through the healing done by all Christian Scientists, the student looks forward to enlarging his opportunities for this service by becoming an authorized practitioner. An excellent start in this preparation is the denial of the claims of evil as they present themselves in the home, at business, or anywhere in the daily round.

Nothing can keep patients away from one who is prepared to aid them. The patient may be at the next desk, or he may come from outside. He is not likely to be attracted by a thought which is contemptuous, irritable, impatient, discontented with the daily tasks. But if the student is seeking to express perseverance, thoroughness, and faithfulness in all that he does, and shows his love for God by his love for mankind, then the fact that he is in a place of business will not deter one with a problem from asking him for help in its solution. Similarly, the cares of a home need not in themselves be a bar to patients, if the student persistently refuses to admit monotony, or drudgery, or emptiness in relation to her tasks, and shows to her family and to her neighbors that she has found that which makes her cheerful, joyous, peaceful, a better rather than a poorer home-maker.

With what comforting assurance comes the message of Paul written to the Corinthians, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." The very assumption by so close a follower of Jesus that there are material tasks to be done in which God may be glorified, helps to uplift thought to behold opportunities for service, which when fulfilled will lead to still greater ones. Christian Science is not to be applied primarily that a material business may be made successful, or that a task in the home may be done easily and properly, but in order that God may be glorified. Keeping this object plainly in view helps toward its attainment.

On page 370 of "Miscellaneous Writings" our Leader writes, "In different ages the divine idea assumes different forms, according to humanity's needs. In this age it assumes, more intelligently than ever before, the form of Christian healing. This is the babe we are to cherish. This is the babe that twines its loving arms about the neck of omnipotence, and calls forth infinite care from His loving heart."

The earthly days of our Leader, as well as the earthly sojourn of Jesus, provide many instances of the glorifying of God in the performance of material tasks. On one occasion Jesus went to a marriage feast, not seeking personal comfort or entertainment we may be certain, nor yet contemptuous of those who were. There he found an opportunity to turn the water into wine, glorifying God in a way which could be seen and therefore, in a measure at least, accepted by his fellow-guests. When material laws demanded a tribute, he did not try to turn his back upon them, but, by taking the tridute money from the mouth of a fish, he at once showed the nothingness of human conditions and the ever protecting, watchful care of God for His children.

The disciples were engaged in a very humble occupation when Jesus appeared to them for the last time on the shores of the Sea of Galilee; but his command to them was to use the right method in their fishing. Immediately their nets were filled; and obedience brought the further view, there on the shore, of a fire laid, with fish already on the coals. Such an experience certainly would have its part in fitting the disciples for the more valuable service of being fishers of men.

Naturally, as the student continues his work in Christian Science, mere material tasks and material conditions seem of less and less importance. It is assumed that no student would remain for an instant in a position which is dishonorable or unworthy; but as he works out his problem toward the desired goal of being an authorized practitioner, he will find that the way leads toward greater activity.

Sometimes those in business fields or in home occupations unconsciously may look toward the office of the practitioner as the place of solace and peace rather than the place of constant alertness and unceasing activity. The human thought ever has been tempted, when it has acquired what it considers important knowledge, to retire to a secluded spot wherein to study, to meditate, and to teach only those who by following show their desire to learn. There is a rightful desire to go up into a high mountain to be alone with God; but whoever climbs, if he is to make the vision his own, must return to share it with his fellows. It is conceivable that the practitioner may find it difficult, with the thronging demands, to get the hours for study and refreshment. Therefore the student who is seeking to enter the practice well may begin by proving that, in spite of his own individual tasks, he can keep his thought on his study, whether it is late at night or early in the morning, and also that he can prevent himself from being robbed of the opportunity to realize man's unity with God, which brings the uplifting experience of the mountain-top vision. To be in the world but not of it requires spiritual activity. But that is possible even in the midst of material tasks, if glorifying God is put ahead of all else, and if alertness to duty, fidelity to Truth, and loyalty to Love characterize the worker.

This naturally leads us to test ourselves and our willingness to reflect the right qualities, as well as our everyday work and its usefulness, honesty, and benefit to mankind. Our improving views of man and our higher concept of the meaning of activity should make us increasingly conscious of the opportunities to glorify God through healing, which are present right where we are. Then there will be no uncertainty as to God's plan for our activity and its marvelous improvement over any outlining which we could make for ourselves. Consecration will bring to us the work for which such consecration prepares us. We should not reach out to grasp that for which we are not ready. Nor on the other hand should we hesitate to take any step toward the practice of the healing truth, which is the great service we are privileged to render our heavenly Father. On page 204 of "Miscellaneous Writings" our Leader tells us, "By purifying human thought, this state of mind permeates with increased harmony all the minutiae of human affairs."

As we seek to bring out the glory of God so that it may be acknowledged by purified human thought, there are certain possible dangers against which we should guard. We must be certain that we do not look to our human work as merely dividend producing, that we are not misled into pride over what we may conceive to be our ability to earn money, forgetting that God is the source of all real supply. We must not make the mistake of seeing glory in our individual human accomplishment of work or in any condition of material achievement. We must preserve the knowledge that our first allegiance is to God, and that any work which we are doing is to glorify Him, to enlarge our understanding of Him, and to develop within ourselves the qualities of obedience, humility, perseverance, honesty, faithfulness, and love. We must see that the material task does not interfere with our study of Christian Science, our reading of the Christian Science publications, including The Christian Science Monitor, our work for The Mother Church and branch churches, our daily demonstrations of the power of good over the illusions of evil.

As we do these things, the ordinary tasks will be accomplished more quickly and easily than ever before, falling into the background as spiritual activity crowds them out, leaving us free to render the service for which we have been preparing ourselves as practitioners of the truth. Thus we shall be proving the words of one of our hymns:—

Copyright, 1925, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, Falmouth and St. Paul Streets, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.