Happiness

Duncan Sinclair

No one, surely, will deny that Christ Jesus expected those who accepted his teaching to be happy. Comforting his disciples he said, as John records in the fifteenth and sixteenth chapters of his Gospel: "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full;" "Your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you;" "Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." Although on the threshold of one of the most trying experiences to which anyone could be subjected, the Master himself was at peace. Otherwise, how could he have spoken to his disciples as he did?

The joy or happiness which Jesus desired his followers to share with him, and knew they would share, was to result from the understanding of real being which he had imparted to them. The aim of his teaching, based on his knowledge of reality, was that they should know God and man and love God wholeheartedly and their neighbor as themselves, with all that that implied in mastery over evil beliefs—envy, jealousy, malice, hatred, covetousness, sensuousness, and the like. His teaching also inculcated the necessity of treasuring thoughts that are loving, pure, and good, and the putting into practice of these thoughts in daily living.

Unquestionably, Jesus derived much happiness not only from the purity and goodness of his own thoughts, but from the fact that he was able to bless his fellow men by healing them of sickness and sin. What joy, to restore to health those bound for years by disease! What gladness, to bring back the light of intelligence to the clouded mentality! What happiness, to realize for those sunk deep in the mire of sin the purity which belongs to the children of God! Jesus was joyous, glad, happy in his great work of redemption; and those whom he saved or healed must have caught a measure of his spirit, must have experienced a measure of that joy which he manifested. Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 57): "Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it."

Christian Science is faithful to the teaching of the master Christian, and it asserts that if its truths be understood and practiced, happiness is certain to result. A line of thought which it sets forth on the question of happiness is particularly helpful. Christian Science declares that man, as the image of God, reflects God. And since God is infinitely good, man must reflect or express good unlimitedly. Thus man, the man of God's creating, is joyous and happy beyond the power of the human so-called mind to conceive. Erring mortal beliefs may seem to obscure the fact; nevertheless, the truth is that man, the real spiritual selfhood of each of us, is endowed with happiness beyond words to express.

What should be the effect upon those who are learning the truth about man as God's image? They should become increasingly happier. It is indeed incumbent upon Christian Scientists to be happy. They should therefore affirm the truth about their real selves—that as the sons of God they now are endowed with limitless good, limitless love. In this way they will realize happiness for themselves, recognizing it as part of true being, not something foreign to them and brought to them, as it were, from outside.

Evil thinking and evil doing—sin—always ultimate in unhappiness. Contemplate the world today. How marked is the unhappiness of many! If we analyze the situation we find that the vast majority are unhappy because they are thinking erroneusly, thinking materially, not spiritually. They are not knowing man's true relationship to God, infinite good; not knowing man as God's reflection, the heir to His infinite goodness and love. The bondage of the human race will be completely broken only when the truth about God and man is universally known and demonstrated. Our Leader says on page 337 of Science and Health: "Sensualism is not bliss, but bondage. For true happiness, man must harmonize with his Principle, divine Love; the Son must be in accord with the Father, in conformity with Christ."

Happiness is always spiritual. Since it has a scientific basis, it can be practiced by rule. Wherever thought is held in line with simple goodness and kindness; wherever thought is loving and has the good of others before it; wherever purity and innocence abide—there, in cottage or palace, happiness is found; aye, even in a prison cell. And when happiness is present, there, also, are wit and humor. On page 117 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy writes, "I agree with Rev. Dr. Talmage, that 'there are wit, humor, and enduring vivacity among God's people.'" Happiness is inseparable from wit, humor, and spiritual vivacity. May we cultivate it as a gracious sign of our understanding of real being.

Duncan Sinclair

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Presence and Power

January 26, 1935

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