Have you ever had feelings of uneasiness and emptiness, though you are not sure why? Perhaps you have been worshiping—without knowing it—a material god.

The uneasiness may indicate the dawning recognition of the nonexistence of such a god—the unreality of matter—and you are left with nothing but a vacuum. The author of the book of Ecclesiastes wrote at length about this state of disillusionment. He mentions the uselessness of material work, wisdom, pleasure, riches, and life in general. Then he sums it all up, saying, "I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun." ^{Eccl. 2:11;}

If at times we feel this kind of dissatisfaction, we need not be disheartened. It is often a symptom of the natural longing for righteousness (or right, spiritual consciousness)—a stirring of the human mind as it begins to waken from the dream of material sense to recognize that it should be looking to other than material methods to find peace. And Christ Jesus promised that those who had this longing would be comforted. He said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." ^{Matt. 5:6;}

True, spiritual consciousness actually already belongs to every one of us by right of our being individual expressions of the one God, who is Life, Love, infinite Spirit, divine Mind. We reflect this Mind's boundless perfection and possess all of its spiritual ideas to ensure our satisfaction. But the false, material mind, of which physical man is the expression, is finite, and, as Mrs. Eddy explains in the Christian Science textbook: "A mortal, corporeal, or finite conception of God cannot embrace the glories of limitless, incorporeal Life and Love. Hence the unsatisfied human craving for something better, higher, holier, than is afforded by a material belief in a physical God and man." ^{Science and Health, p. 258;}

We are all created by Mind, and each includes the qualities of divine Being—"the glories of limitless, incorporeal Life and Love." In truth we all reflect the limitless, perfect, all-powerful God as individual, incorporeal, infinite, spiritual ideas. When we grasp this fact and identify ourselves with the Christly nature God has given us, we find satisfying peace and joy developing within us in a manner that we can attain in no other way.

Not knowing this, over the years mankind have devised a variety of methods to satisfy their cravings. Today, various material philosophies, occult practices, systems of thought control, all offer advice on how to meet the need. In their different ways most of the exponents of these methods are probably sincere in their claims to direct mankind toward rest and satisfaction in God. Seekers for Truth may try them and at first believe they have found the way, but as a rule disenchantment soon follows as they find real fulfillment eluding them.

Other methods hint at the attainment of freedom and expanded experience through the action of chemicals on the brain. But the outcome of experimentation along these lines is too often slavery.

Still other modes present formulas intended to direct humanity to the transcendent. These are also unsatisfying since they lead their adherents to a realm of thought far distant from everyday life, rather than to a demonstration of goodness and love through the Christ, or true idea of God.

Then, again, some people think of social action as the way to draw near to God and find satisfaction. And, indeed, there is satisfaction to be gained by helping others in a practical, human way. But this, of itself, is inadequate to meet the deeper hunger and thirst for right, spiritual consciousness—as those who confine themselves to human methods eventually discover.

Human longings cannot be fully satisfied by anything one may do or experience materially or intellectually, though intellectual development along lines of right reason and receptivity to expansive thought will help to promote the growth of the human mind beyond its own limitations. Mrs. Eddy writes, "We cannot fathom the nature and quality of God's creation by diving into the shallows of mortal belief. We must reverse our feeble flutterings—our efforts to find life and truth in matter—and rise above the testimony of the material senses, above the mortal to the immortal idea of God. These clearer, higher views inspire the Godlike man to reach the absolute centre and circumference of his being." ^{ibid., p. 262.}

We already possess all the qualities of God that ensure total satisfaction and peace. We reflect the infinite, spiritual consciousness that includes "the glories of limitless, incorporeal Life and Love." Our true nature as God's idea is divine, and has boundless opportunity and capacity for spiritual development.

When we find this out, claim as our own the unlimited good that God gives us, and express the spiritual qualities that constitute our true being, we see before us rich probabilities and limitless possibilities. Human cravings then cease. We are deeply satisfied and wholly content.

Naomi Price