"Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way." So writes Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 454).

Progress is a factor of immediate interest to each individual. To one at work in an office, progress may mean advancement to a better-paid or more responsible position; to the housewife and mother, progress may signify better management of household affairs and more harmonious and effectual fulfilling of her role in the home; to the scholar, progress may mean the gaining of a higher academic degree and the acquisition of knowledge along lines of a specific interest. To the laborer in field and mine, to the sailor at sea and the airplane pilot, to the professor, the writer, the artist—to all thinking persons, progress is indigenous.

What does Christian Science teach about progress, and what is the rule provided by divine Principle for the solving of the problem of lack of progress or opportunity, or perhaps even of lack of knowing in what direction progress lies? Our Leader writes (ibid., p. 170), "Spiritual causation is the one question to be considered, for more than all others spiritual causation relates to human progress." Let us, then, consider spiritual causation and how it relates to our progress in whatever activity we are engaged. Let us examine causation in the light of the statement that is quoted at the beginning of this article, for it points out that divine Love, reflected in human consciousness, takes an active part.

"Love inspires" the way. This statement lifts inspiration out of the realm of ambiguity and caprice and indicates its tangibility as an active quality of Love. It is our privilege to be spiritually inspired, to have our motives instigated and influenced by good alone. Let us be continually inspired by Love; and, furthermore, let us know we are inspired by Love only, and refuse to listen to rumors of another power claiming to inspire or influence thought. Then we shall see the fulfillment of the Biblical promise (Ps. 91:11), "He shall give his angels charge over thee," and these angel thoughts, God-inspired, will be found abundantly present in our consciousness.

It is interesting to note that Mrs. Eddy in her writings has associated the word "inspiration" with "spiritual strength" (Science and Health, p. 599). Therefore, we may know that the inspiration of good is imbued with spiritual strength, stabilizing one's motives and affections, Man, as the image and likeness of God, is the recipient of Love-inspired good.

With Love inspiring and purifying our motives, have we not cause for rejoicing that Love also "illumines" our way? May we not expect and accept the illumination of our consciousness by Love and, thus enlightened, find our concept of progress clarified and freed from unintelligent aimlessness? Love-enlightened, one relinquishes a tendency to outline his own progress humanly and yields to the spiritual intelligence which is his by reflection and which shows him that true progress is spiritual. He may discover that his goal is not the one for which he has planned and labored. In such case he must confidently and wisely let his way be illumined by divine Love until he is satisfied that his goal is good. In the illumination of consciousness, ignorance, misjudgment, intractability, and the etceteras of human will power have no place, for one learns to rejoice in Love's care and rest on his Father for direction.

Love "designates" the way. Inspired by good, illumined by intelligence, our way acquires direction and purpose under the divine designation of Love. As the Scriptures declare (Prov. 16:3), "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established." Love's work is never obscure or indefinite, but appears increasingly lucid to us as we are willing to accept the leadings of God.

The writer has found it true that her affairs have often been radically redirected as she looked to God for guidance. In reviewing past experiences, she can now see marked evidences of Love's control, although the full outline of progress was not then apparent. May we claim the blessing of Isaiah's words (42:16): "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." Love appears with absolute invariability to every earnest seeker to designate his work. This work cannot remain darkened, doubtful, discouraging, since it is Love's unopposed will to manifest itself in every situation.

Love "leads the way," thus fulfilling the activity of spiritual causation. Confident of God's direction, we must be eager and ready to follow His leading. It is evident that Jesus admired and encouraged joyful decisiveness of thought and action. This is apparent, for example, in his two parables concerning the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 13:44–46). He tells of treasure found in a field by a man who "for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field," and then of a merchant "seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." Neither man waited to count the cost of acting promptly, but rather "for joy thereof" acted decisively to obtain the treasure.

Let us as joyfully and promptly follow the leading of our enlightened and Love-inspired consciousness, claiming the protection and wisdom of Love at all times. The process of advancement should involve effortless unfoldment, rather than feverish anxiety. For, resting in the consciousness of man's sonship with God, we are alert to every opportunity and every inspiration for good, and our steps proceed in orderly succession.

Let us, in humility, turn to our Father for guidance, praying earnestly that we may discern His will and do it. Let us accept the fact that spiritual causation relates to our human progress and seek to have our affairs divinely governed and directed. Our Leader writes (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 181): "Progress is spiritual. Progress is the maturing conception of divine Love." Each individual will find true and lasting progress in direct proportion to his "maturing conception of divine Love" and his realized relationship to Love.

Is not progress a joyful activity? Let us be assured, resolute, radiant workers, finding our every thought good-inspired and our goal spiritually illumined. Then our work will be Love-designated and our way Love-led.