The infant tests a cry; it brings attention. Soon he delights in proving his abilities. He entertains himself, pushes himself along, reaches out for a finger to grasp, fondles a toy.

Time goes on. Constantly this growing individual is surrounded by and is made aware of varied human activities. He becomes increasingly convinced that this is a world of vast, limitless potentials to be tested, performances to be improved. "Success in life depends upon persistent effort, upon the improvement of moments more than upon any other one thing," reads an article, "Improve Your Time," in Mrs. Eddy's Miscellaneous Writings. She adds: "If one would be successful in the future, let him make the most of the present.

"Three ways of wasting time, one of which is contemptible, are gossiping mischief, making lingering calls, and mere motion when at work, thinking of nothing or planning for some amusement,— travel of limb more than mind." She continues in the next paragraph, "All successful individuals have become such by hard work; by improving moments before they pass into hours, and hours that other people may occupy in the pursuit of pleasure." ^{Mis., p. 230;}

Now is my moment. How shall I improve it? If I'm wise, I'll not take a step without waiting for God's instruction, protection, direction, correction. It may give me a jolt to learn that my first duty is to correct my concept of my brother—and, believe it or not, he may be my employer, my mother-in-law, my landlord, my teacher, or perhaps the innocent but mischievous little rascal living next door. Have the stresses and strains of daily life prevented me from proving my God-given kindness and understanding?

"The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works."^{Ps. 145:9;} May I come face to face with the fact that it is my pleasurable task to reflect these tender mercies, to extend them to all mankind far and near, to those who manifest love for me and those who don't. Moments of repentance followed by richer moments of reformation—these are moments improved.

Once when I was abroad and there seemed endless details to be attended to, I found myself regretting, "It's such a waste of time, this appointment at the beauty salon." However, while the operator busied herself, I relaxed. In the quiet that followed, the thought "improve your moment" presented itself.

"How?" For some time, much too long in fact, I had ruminated over the critical attitude of one I had done my utmost to help. As a result my usual joy and inspiration were hovering around zero. The current Christian Science Quarterly Lesson-Sermon included, "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." ^{Matt. 5:23, 24;}

Now, how could we be reconciled? We were thousands of miles apart. Then it became plain that personal contact was not the answer. I must see, willingly recognize, this individual as the flawless image of God, of Love. This was the divine requirement—not altogether an easy one.

"Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," ^6:12. the Master, Christ Jesus, taught us in his Soul-inspired prayer. There was no dodging the issue. I must happily admit that the one over whose attitude I had been having such a stubborn struggle was, in reality, Love's pure, spiritual idea, loving, lovable, and lovely. I could see that gratitude and appreciation were inherent in her nature. Asking God to forgive my debts amounted to asking Him to help me understand that He loved me, just as He was teaching me at this great moment of improvement to love another.

What a battle He was winning for me—not as I prayed in the quiet sanctuary of my comfortable home but as I baked under a hair dryer, surrounded by strangers in a distant land!

Shortly I was on my way. I was happy, light, free, cheered by the sunshine of forgiveness, the joy of selfless love. From then on my friend and I enjoyed a happy relationship.

God, Love, faithfully guides us all the way. Under His gentle but firm persuasion we entertain pure affection for those we associate with and think about. And so we bless and are blessed.

Not immediate translation to another sphere of being, but seeing more and more of ever-present heaven through proof here and now of the healing and redemptive power of divine Truth' and Love— this is the great requirement. When we join forces with bold Christian brothers, earth is touched with tints of heaven. It becomes less terrestrial, more celestial; our progress is markedly more spiritual.