It is relatively easy to track the advances in technology and the improvements in the outward conditions of people's lives as civilization moves forward. Yet a more important element of progress may not be so readily measured by observing only the quantity and sophistication of the "things" around us. That element has to do with the quality of human thought and its effect on people's sense of purpose, worth, and fulfillment.

Perhaps we should be asking ourselves some different questions about what progress actually means rather than assuming it is essentially defined by cordless telephones or supersonic transatlantic airline flights, as useful as such things are. We might ask, for example, if there is substantially more real joy being expressed in the world today. With progress, this should be a readily acknowledged fact of life. Is there greater integrity, wisdom, holiness, purity, goodness, peace, and love? With progress, these qualities should be widely apparent, broadening in both their outward expression and their influence in human experience.

Such qualities are, in truth, spiritual qualities. And any significant measure of mankind's growth must take these into account, for without an expanding sense of real good, mankind is in fact going nowhere. Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered and founded Christian Science, sums up in one sentence what it is that progress should manifest. She writes: "Each successive period of progress is a period more humane and spiritual." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 26.} One might conclude that when the "humane and spiritual" are not so evident, real progress is lacking.

But what can we do as individuals? Actually how we answer this question with our own lives is a key factor in bringing to light for all mankind such "a period more humane and spiritual." Is it not the joy and peace and love of one heart and life added to another and then another, touching another and then another, that constitutes humanity's progress as a whole? What is more, our own demonstration of individual moral and spiritual development stands as solid proof that today does indeed witness a "successive period of progress."

In their individual growth, students of Christian Science naturally turn to the Bible for spiritual nourishment and guidance. And the textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy, opens up for the Christian Scientist the spiritual meaning of Bible passages and illumines in consciousness the real nature of God and His creation. God is revealed as divine, omnipresent Spirit; as infinite, omnipotent Mind; as eternal, omniscient Love. Man is seen to be the pure, perfect reflection of God—Mind's spiritual idea, Love's intelligent manifestation.

Through consecrated prayer, a realization of spiritual truth transforms individual consciousness. The action of Christ redeems and regenerates us, and we gain in demonstrating the truth of being.

Yet it is also to the degree that we are genuinely humane—genuinely kind, humble, compassionate, honest, and caring—that our heart and conscience are made ready for increased spirituality. And as we grow in spiritual understanding, we find a wonderful thing happening—our capacity to be humane continues to expand. The largess of a heart with room enough to embrace others and with sufficient understanding to see the true good in everyone ultimately includes all mankind in its affections and beneficence.

If we think we are growing spiritually but are not becoming more humane, we are not growing! Deeper spirituality must be evidenced by the actual expression of a more tender humanity. In the Bible's First Epistle of John we are reminded: "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. ... He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" ^{I John 4:8, 20.}

Christ Jesus' unparalleled depth of spirituality made him also the most humane of men. The Master knew the truth of spiritual being, and he was free and mighty because of what he knew. But he didn't keep it to himself. He shared what he knew. He taught, he healed, he saved. What a period of progress was ushered in with the coming of the Messiah!

Today, the Comforter that Jesus promised to his followers is here to bless all mankind. It is the Science of Christianity teaching all truth to this age, healing the sick through spiritual means alone, and redeeming the sinner with the baptism of divine Love. And what a period of progress—"humane and spiritual"—is ushered in with the coming of the Comforter!

Our individual part is to make sure the period of progress in our own lives conforms, as closely as we're able to demonstrate, with the final "period of progress" the Comforter has already established. Our joy, our love, our purity, our integrity, must be felt—and felt by others. We need to be always humane and compassionate and ever spiritually ready to be healers. The world urgently needs both our deeper spirituality and our more tender humanity.

WILLIAM E. MOODY