In the Gospel of John we find Jesus saying (20:29), "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." What do we believe? Do we believe in good or in evil? Many believe in both, some in evil only, few in good only. In Christian Science we learn that good alone is real—that it is spiritual, without any taint of matter or of material thinking. What a joy to learn this, to learn and prove it more and more!

To the material senses spiritual good seems nonexistent. But is this a reason for having no faith in the reality and presence of good? "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed," to quote again the words of our Master, who proved the presence of good as no other. Men like to hope for good; some hope trustingly, others without much certainty. Many are disappointed. But whence come their disappointents? Do they not come from the fact that men in general hope for or expect good in some future time? "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed," believed that good is here now, and not in the future.

Some years ago a student of Christian Science had an experience in which she had to prove that good is ever present. She had been living abroad, and during a time when unemployment had reached its peak in her own country, she returned home to find a position. The suggestions and doubts of her dear ones who did not know of Christian Science were rejected with the reassuring truth in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 578), where Mary Baker Eddy gives the spiritual interpretation of the twenty-third Psalm: "[Love] prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies," that is, in the presence of erroneous human opinions.

The position was not found at once, but the student, who had already taken the necessary human steps, regarded it as her main task to work out the problem in Christian Science, and she did so in the quiet atmosphere of a Christian Science Reading Room, which she visited every day. While she was there one morning, she picked up a Bible and opened it to the fourth chapter of Daniel and there read the account of King Nebuchadnezzar, especially of his learning of humility and of his re-establishment in his kingdom. When she had studied this passage twice, she paused at verse 34: "And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever."

Nebuchadnezzar gave thanks and praised God before something happened outwardly. He had been "driven from men" and his dwelling was "with the beasts of the field," and yet "at the end of the days" he blessed God, good. We read, "At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me." When he realized the presence of good and at the same time was able to give thanks for it, Nebuchadnezzar was established in his kingdom.

When we are able honestly to give thanks for the presence of good, this means that we have understood it, and this understanding in turn brings about the visible proof.

The student then asked herself, "Am I truly grateful that good is already here?" Her answer was "No," because she was always thinking of good in terms of the future. She certainly expected good, but she had lost sight of the main thing: to know that good is ever at hand. It was quite clear to her now that the first work she should do was to get this understanding of the ever-presence of good; and immediately she took up this work in earnest and with much prayer. Her understanding increased every day; and one morning, after about ten days, she went to an employment office, her consciousness filled with gladness and gratitude for the presence of good. There she was given the address of a firm that had need of an employee, went there, and had a talk with the head of the firm, who asked her at the end of the interview, "When can you start?" "Right now," was the answer. And she was engaged.

A short time afterward a much better position was offered in which the student was able to utilize everything she had learned. The first position furnished the money for the fare to the second place, which was a long way from her home. Her gratitude for the presence of good before it appeared outwardly had brought about the visible proof.

Today many inhabitants of the world look for good, hope for good, without being certain of it; and many have given up hope altogether. What a glorious task Christian Scientists have of affirming the omnipresence of good, of giving thanks for the fact that good is here now, and of proving it. Let us, therefore, help a tired and impoverished humanity to learn, through constant gratitude for the omnipresence of good and the proof thereof, that good is here now, to give thanks for it, to see it, to experience and to understand it!