"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." These simple words of Christ Jesus reveal the sublime magnanimity of him who lived more truly, more richly, than has any other before or since. The humble Nazarene lived abundantly because he loved unselfishly, unstintingly, unceasingly. His sole purpose in running the gamut of human experience was to show men how to live by showing them how to love. What but purest love for God and man could have sustained him through unprecedented trials? What else could have given him the courage to endure the world's hatred of Truth and the brutality of his persecutors, even those whom he lived to bless? Consider the unparalleled example of selfless, forgiving love that found utterance at the crucifixion, that culminating act of inhumanity, in the fervent appeal, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"!

No individual in subsequent history has so thoroughly understood and closely emulated the Master's career of self-sacrifice and untiring devotion as the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy. This must be the inevitable conclusion of all who have understood her revelation sufficiently to give heed to her faithful following of his great example of selfless service. In commenting on his magnificent life of love, she has written in the textbook (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 54), "That he might liberally pour his dear-bought treasures into empty or sin filled human storehouses, was the inspiration of Jesus' intense human sacrifice." In her own search for Truth and her self-renouncing life of devotion to the holiest of all causes—the establishment of the kingdom of heaven on earth—she exemplified her ideal. This ideal she sums up succinctly in the words from her poem "Love" (Poems, p. 7):

From time immemorial the question, "What is life?" has engaged the thought of saint and sinner, the simple-minded and the sage. The human heart yearns for life and self-expression, but all too often seeks them in the husks of material self-indulgence, cold intellectual pursuits, or even dishonest practices. The self-justifying determination to live one's "own life" not infrequently leads to responsibilities neglected, tragic disregard of others' right and happiness, aching hearts and broken homes. The misguided ones may flit from one material rainbow to another until arrested by some unhappy experience, or perhaps by sheer weariness of the futile search. Sooner or later inevitably come disappointment and disillusionment to all who seek for life and happiness apart from God.

We sometimes hear the resigned, or perhaps cynical, expression, "That is life," when the speaker is referring to some poignant bit of human history or experience. But no, that is not life; that is a poor, poor parody on life. Only that is truly life which reflects the one infinite Life, or God—that which radiates beneficent divine Love in joyousness, usefulness, fruitfulness. Life is never bitter, never sad. It could not be expressed in disappointed hope or futile effort. These express but a straying from Life, and indicate a lack of true love and godliness. Indeed, they are the outcome or manifestation of some form of carnal-mindedness, which Paul plainly calls "death," adding, "But to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

In Proverbs we read, "As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death." Yet how little do mortals heed this warning! In their effort to find satisfaction and happiness they seem not primarily, if at all, concerned with attaining righteousness, spirituality, and unselfed love, though these are the very fount of their quest. Even when confronted with discordant bodily conditions that fill them with terror, they are not usually afraid of being carnally minded, though this is the cause of disease and death. And so the sons of Adam generally go stumbling blindly on through human experiences, often severe, because they have not learned the way of scientific living. In reference to this haphazard, unreal, counterfeit sense of existence our Leader writes on page 203 of Science and Health, "The foam and fury of illegitimate living and of fearful and doleful dying should disappear on the shore of time; then the waves of sin, sorrow, and death beat in vain."

Christian Science is revolutionizing the thought of its earnest students who, humbled and repentant, are gradually learning that their thinking, as evidenced in their characters, determines their outward experience for good or evil, for life or death. They are coming more clearly to realize that truly to live, they must love; truly to love, they must put on spirituality and righteousness, and overcome selfishness, sin, and materiality, other terms for carnal-mindedness.

Assuredly, no longer need anyone lead a barren, joyless existence, self-pitying, bitter, and regretful. Regardless of untoward circumstances, everyone can bring happiness, peace, and security into his life in the degree that he will look away from self, with its narrow introspectiveness, and fill his heart with love for God and man. If anyone doubts this, let him try to find a fearful, unhappy, discontented man or woman whose days are spent in truly loving service, all forgetful of self. His search will be in vain.

He will find the beginnings of rich happiness and abundant living who can honestly and habitually pray, in the words of a well-known hymn:

Copyright, 1936, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, One, Norway Street, 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.