What is happiness? What is its source? How available is it?

Christian Science explains that happiness is a spiritual quality with its source in God, instantly available because ever present and universal.

To really know what true happiness is, it is necessary for us to know what God is. Christian Science teaches that just as there is a basic truth of mathematics, so there is a perfect Principle of man's existence, of his harmony, health, and happiness. Mrs. Eddy writes, "Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love." ^{Science and Health, p. 57;}

Happiness isn't subject to chance, change, or dissolution. Christ Jesus told his disciples, "Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." ^{Luke 10:20;} He knew that it is natural to express spiritual joy when one is bearing witness to the truth of man's unity, or oneness, with God, good.

We sometimes hear, and occasionally even remark, "I'll be glad when school is out," "I'll be so happy when vacation time arrives," or "It will be good to have this job done." We often doubt our own present happiness. But we seldom doubt our own honesty. Should anyone ask us if we were more honest on Tuesday than on Thursday, we probably wouldn't hesitate to answer No. But let someone ask us the same question about our happiness, and see how different our response might be, for we are inclined to think that happiness is a future possibility.

We tend to think of honesty as untouched by exterior conditions, but we often seem to think that happiness is dependent upon chance or another's approval, upon material wealth, location, weather, companionship.

A part of Mrs. Eddy's definition of "creator" reads, "The animating divine Principle of all that is real and good." ^{Science and Health, p. 583;} Because the creator, God, or good, is ever present, we need never wait for a reason or season to be happy. We need to see the truth that man really reflects the constant joy of God. The recognition of God as "the animating divine Principle of all that is real and good" causes us to be more aware and appreciative of good everywhere. Consequently we find our joy.

Being happy all the time is just as necessary and just as simple as being honest all the time. Unhappiness dishonors God. It obscures our relationship to Him. We are not being true to God, the source of all good, when we are unhappy and morose. But we can do something about it. We can bring our thought into the recognition and acknowledgment of God's omnipotent goodness. As we do this, we are accepting our birthright of true happiness, joy that neither comes nor goes but is ever present.

Whatever seems to produce unhappiness is a fiction, not a fact, regarding God's creation. To overcome unhappiness, one needs to understand the unreality of whatever seems to produce it. Unhappiness is part of the illusion of life in matter. It is overcome by affirming God's spiritual goodness as the only reality. "For true happiness," Mrs. Eddy writes, "man must harmonize with his Principle, divine Love; the Son must be in accord with the Father, in conformity with Christ." ^{p. 337;} True happiness isn't just a cloak that is worn in the crowd and discarded when one is alone. Happiness that is born of the spiritual understanding of man's at-one-ment with his Father exists whether one is with many or alone. It is a song in the heart; it is obedience. Because it is of God, it is not like a light that can be turned off. It shines forever, and all God's ideas are warmed by its glow.

Those who knew Mrs. Eddy have written of her merry laugh, her keen sense of humor, the lilt of joy in her voice. The Leader of the Christian Science movement well knew the importance of joy. Her happiness was consistent with the Master's prophetic assurance: "Your joy no man taketh from you." ^{John 16:22.}

I once had a severe testing time and had to prove that joy is not a dubious thing. I had always expressed gratitude for the continuing sense of joy that Christian Science had brought into my life. I had learned to release my children from a possessive human sense of love. I realized, in a degree, that they, as well as I, were the children of one common Parent, divine Love. Through the understanding of this Science of pure Christianity I had always been grateful for the comforting assurance of eternal life.

Now I was suddenly faced with a supreme test of my faith in good, of my ability to remain joyous, calm, and trusting. A loved daughter had passed on just before her twenty-first birthday. I had to prove that happiness was not dependent upon the physical presence of this loved one.

How grateful I was for the understanding that in reality my daughter was expressing the Father's purpose for man as always! I knew that this was what she and all of us were really doing. The qualities of joy, spontaneity, tenderness, and loving-kindness she had expressed so freely were ever present. I saw that the best way I could honor God and this loved one was to endeavor to live these qualities more myself.

I and my whole household were beautifully sustained and comforted. We learned in a fuller sense than ever before that happiness is truly not dependent upon the physical presence. It is dependent upon the joyous recognition and acknowledgment of man's spiritual identity, his individual expression of Spirit, God. And this expression is as undying as its creator.

Through joy—an index of Love's nearness—reality is seen. In its glow the mists of human unhappiness disappear, and we find the heaven of God's presence.