Desirable activity, satisfying companionship, a congenial home, and a sense of abundance are sought by many. But often this seeking brings forth aspects of environment which bear down upon the thought, causing anxiety and trepidation, until one believes himself to be the victim of circumstances.

Probably every individual has, at one time or another, found himself in conflict with his environment. So common is this experience that it led Charles Darwin, the naturalist, to define as a natural law this struggle of man with his environment which in its results the English philosopher, Herbert Spencer, called "the survival of the fittest." It often seems, from the merely human point of vies, that the struggle is very onesided and in favor of the environment. If environment is looked upon as a limiting and controlling force, the individual must come to terms with and adapt himself to his environment.

Jesus, however, indicated the nature of man's true environment when he said (Luke 17:21), "Behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Paul pointed it out when he stated (Acts 17:28), "In him we live, and move, and have our being." Mary Baker Eddy, in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," reveals the method of finding this real, ever-present environment when she writes (p. 516), "The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by His creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere."

It dawns upon the thinker, as he becomes familiar with the truths of Christian Science, that human environment consists of states of thought objectified. Mrs. Eddy says (ibid., p. 484): "What are termed natural science and material laws are the objective states of mortal mind. The physical universe expresses the conscious and unconscious thoughts of mortals." Thus it is seen that the common approach to any problem involving outward conditions must be reversed. Instead of endeavoring to manipulate an external state of things in order to make it serve what is considered one's best interest, the individual learns that it is in his consciousness that adjustments must first be made. This radical about-face is not only possible but highly practical in the light of the teachings of Christian Science.

The statements of Jesus, Paul, and Mary Baker Eddy regarding the true, spiritual environment of man are seen to be actual, living, and practical truths, which, when understood and allowed to govern thought and action, mold one's human environment after one's highest ideals. In the measure that he holds in thought the perfection of God and man, the struggle, anxiety, suffering, and fear which seem so much a part of the world in which one lives, yield, and one finds his environment improving. For example, one may find himself confronted with unkindness, ingratitude, neglect, and even hatred, which seem to be personified in a fellow man. These are false beliefs, and can be proved powerless to disturb one's environment when one firmly maintains in his own thought the spiritual idea of the perfection of God and of man in His image and likeness.

Thoughts that express compassion, friendliness, co-operation, and an unselfish desire for another's good help to bring out a satisfying sense of companionship. This is not attained by looking to another for satisfaction and happiness. One must entertain these spiritual qualities of thought in his own consciousness in order for them to be expressed in his environment. Springing from within, they will blossom without in all loveliness.

It may be that one's capacity for activity is not expressed fully or happily. Is it because there seems to be unfair competition, favoritism, or unrecognized ability? From the ordinary human point of view, these are states of undesirable environment; but from the view of a consciousness alive to the facts of spiritual perfection these unfavorable environmental conditions are seen as false beliefs of mortal, erring thought. We shall find them powerless to interfere with or hinder our progress in the degree that we realize the fact that man's activity is the reflection of the activity of Mind and must always express progress, harmony, and abundance of good.

If we are about our Father's business, we cannot fail to express such qualities as consideration for others, intelligent application to the work in hand, appreciation to the work in hand, appreciation of good and depreciation of evil, and a right sense of association with our fellow men. To the extent that we realize the perfection of man and the universe shall we be able to evidence this perfection outwardly. We demonstrate true environment in proportion to our spiritual understanding of it.

Jesus said (Matt. 6:33), "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." First we must recognize and reflect the good which constitutes divine consciousness; then the manifestation of good in our environment follows. Do we lack a sufficiency of those things which seem needful for human existence? It is not to human environment that we must turn, but to the kingdom of heaven within. Then we shall perceive that we possess by reflection all that is needful; for God, in His infinite wisdom, has provided His idea, man, fully and completely with the substance of all good. This substance is always present and available, and is made humanly apparent through a spiritual perception of this fact.

Dominion and peace are mental qualities, not dependent upon a supposed environment from which they must be won by great effort and often under adverse conditions; they are the God-given inheritance of the real man, who possesses them as native to his being. Thought that rests upon the ever-presence of God is established upon the rock of understanding. From this vantage point it is clear that God, who makes everything that is made and makes it good, in His supernal wisdom does not fail to equip His idea, man, with every quality needful for his complete functioning. This spiritual equipment is found in the consciousness of man's unity with divine Love, which enables us to enjoy true environment and to express freedom, dominion, and peace.