There is a satisfying mission in life for everyone. How many of us find and fulfill it? Could it be that we have tried vainly to achieve our life purpose in material rather than in spiritual activities?

Mrs. Eddy, whose inspired mission of discovering and founding Christian Science came into focus in her mature years, gives this helpful guidance in Science and Health: "For true happiness, man must harmonize with his Principle, divine Love; the Son must be in accord with the Father, in conformity with Christ." ^{Science and Health, p. 337;}

The career of Jesus is the supreme example of a man harmonizing with his Principle, God. Early in his earthly existence Jesus acknowledged that he was about his Father's business. Yet the most clarified view of the Christ-mission the world has ever known was not humanly appreciable until his full adulthood.

In the meantime, however, his trade of carpentry did not compete, conflict, or interfere with his mission, but must have exercised qualities that supported it. Mrs. Eddy helpfully explains: "This spiritual idea, or Christ, entered into the minutiæ of the life of the personal Jesus. It made him an honest man, a good carpenter, and a good man, before it could make him the glorified." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 166;} And she also says, "His mission was to reveal the Science of celestial being, to prove what God is and what He does for man." ^{Science and Health, p. 26;}

The Bible shows us that to this end Jesus healed the sick, saved the sinner, raised the dead, taught the truth of being, showed the way to redeem mankind. His works clearly revealed the power of the Christ, the true idea of God. The disciples of Jesus so closely associated themselves with this mission that inspired by his revolutionary spirituality they were lifted from a material sense of existence to a higher consciousness of man's immortal being. In direct proportion to their identification of their activities with the broadening mission of the Christ, Truth, were they able to emulate the Master's works.

Christian discipleship was the highest activity offered to humanity by Jesus' invitation. Although with the passage of time the healings his Christly teachings accomplished seemed to temporarily lose their significance for much of mankind, they have again been brought into focus in Christian Science. This teaching stresses the timelessness of healing Truth. It is revealing the spiritually scientific method Jesus exemplified in his works as provable for everyone. Love has molded the words of Science and Health to reach all levels of humanity, making it understandable to all. It challenges and encourages us to know and live the truth Christ Jesus taught and to heal ourselves and our world.

This by no means implies that we should discard or disrupt our present work, home, families, or right activities. Right where we are the seeds of our mission can be planted. Of the uplifting nature of the Christ light Jesus said: "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." ^{Matt. 5:15, 16;}

Our Christly mission can shine through all we do from routine tasks to grand achievements. Conflict, unhealthy competition, and interference result from placing self first. But seeking to express the divine nature leads upward and away from self. It brings purpose, direction, and fulfillment to our lives. As that greatest of missionaries, Paul, wrote to the Christians in Philippi, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." ^{Phil 2:13.}