OPPORTUNITY

PROBABLY no word is more generally misunderstood than the word "opportunity." Webster defines opportunity as "a time or place favorable for executing a purpose." While this definition is generally accepted, unless we consider the underlying reality of what is conceived of and humanly termed opportunity, we are apt to limit our possibilities and retard our progress for a season.

It is common opinion that the trend or direction of one's opportunities is fixed by his heritage, education, and experiences, all of which are dependent, more or less, on what is called chance or luck; that opportunity not only is subject to chance or luck, but is further conditioned by the so-called law of demand and supply; that irrespective of qualifications and ability, if the demand for the services which one is able to render, or for the commodity one is able to handle, is not equal to the supply, then for him there is little opportunity for successful attainment; that if, on the other hand, such demand does exceed the supply, even then the individual's opportunity is made possible by unfortunate lack on the part of the many. In short, it is believed that opportunity is fortune's bequest to the minority; is ever dependent upon time and circumstance; and is desirable, primarily, for material gain.

Endeavoring to substantiate this claim that opportunity is conditioned by chance and luck, demand and supply, mortal mind, in belief, endows chance and luck with power and authority. Through fear and human will it creates inconsistent demands, and as inconsistently supplies them. Jestingly it mocks the pitiable cries of poverty and grief, want and woe, while it strives to placate lust and greed, ambition and vanity. Though mortal mind has been successful, in a measure, in foisting this concept of opportunity upon the children of men, the righteous thinker repudiates this subtle argument as high treason against his heavenly Father, divine Love, who is "no respecter of persons."

Opportunity is the occasion to demonstrate the power and availability of the ever operative law of good. Man, who, as Mrs. Eddy tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 119), is "the humble servant of the restful Mind," cannot accelerate or retard the action of divine law; but through honestly desiring its control and government, one is lifted in thought above fear and human will to behold its healing, harmonizing power, in every circumstance and condition of thought environing human existence.

In the fifth chapter of John's gospel is recorded an incident of immeasurable value to those seeking the true concept of opportunity. A more graphic description of the pitiful plight of one laboring under the misconception of opportunity was never given than we find in the impotent man's reply to the Master's question, "Wilt thou be made whole?" Hear the reply of doubt and disappointment: "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me." The fact that he lay at the pool of Bethesda is proof that he wanted to be healed. That the ever operative law of good is a divine statute of revocation to every would-be enactment of mortal mind, it was the Master's great opportunity to prove. The beliefs of time, locality, competition, and lack of personal aid vanished before the spoken word, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."

Trials afford opportunity to prove the power of divine law; and the seasons of demonstration, marking the upward footsteps, are stars of hope in the night of discouragement. The heart of Elisha may have been torn with grief and separation when he smote the waves of Jordan with the mantle of his ascending master. But turning unreservedly in the hour of trial to God, he gained certain acquaintance with divine law; and the waters divided in answer from heaven to his query, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" As he passed over Jordan on dry land, doubt and discouragement were supplanted by dominion and spiritual power, concerning which the sons of the prophets declared, "The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha."

Occasion to demonstrate the action of divine law is according to one's growth in Christian character. It well behooves us, therefore, to accept joyfully each lesser opportunity that presents itself, remembering that we cannot receive that to which we have not grown, any more than we can entertain a guest for whom there is no room. It is remembered that the call to acquaint themselves with the verities of God came in early youth to Samuel, Daniel, Christ Jesus, and others, including our Leader. Their obedience thereto was richly recompensed, though in that first call, doubtless, none of them foresaw that degree of individual development characterized by the faithful judge of Israel, the prophet Daniel, or the revelator of Truth. Jesus' first miracle, at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee, met adequately an immediate need. Later, the multitudes were fed, the sick healed, and the dead raised,—all in consonance with his great growth and increased spiritual understanding.

We sometimes hear given as a reason for the attainment of others the fact that "they have had such wonderful opportunities." Opportunity to demonstrate the law of good is the universal heritage of all the children of God, and is ever present to the receptive thought. Humility and expectancy constitute receptivity. The faithful Abraham was watching at the doorway of his tent when he perceived the power of divine law to overrule human belief. It was not to Moses living in the luxury of Pharaoh's court, but to the patient, humble shepherd of the Midian desert who approached the mountain of God with his flock, that the voice from the burning bush extended opportunity to prove his further understanding of God's law.

One's fidelity in the prosecution of a righteous objective is often cause for marvel; but the casual onlooker scarcely realizes that the thought imbued with obedience and fidelity is alone afforded opportunity to perceive and demonstrate the operation of divine law. When Noah foresaw the inevitable approach of the deluge, and was moved to prove the power of God "to the saving of his house," neither the years of toil nor the jesting of his contemporaries dissuaded him from the faithful pursuit of his divine commission. In all the annals of history, no one ever perceived and demonstrated so clearly the action of divine law as Jesus the Christ. Though his obedience and fidelity meant the severing of every earthly tie, and the bitterest persecution known to the ages, he conceded nothing to matter. Animated with the spirit of devout consecration to his holy purpose, he said to those concerned with bodily comforts, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."

In advancing to successful personal attainment, we may think in our ignorance that we are doing much; but to the extent that we entertain this thought, we limit our achievements. God alone is responsible for the perfect operation of His law. This knowledge relieves us of burden and anxiety; and resting in the strength of Spirit, we see right desires take form in grand actualities. Thus we gain a sense of the import of the Scriptural admonition, "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."

In demonstration of the power and availability of divine law, the visible manifestation may often be pleasing to sight and sense; but this is but the sign and symbol of the spiritual attainment of the faithful. The power and availability of divine law are not demonstrable to those who would take the kingdom of heaven by violence and lay hold upon effect with no knowledge of cause. Moved with compassion, the meek and mighty Jesus fed the hungry; and though his understanding was sufficient to have changed the flinty stones to bread, he silenced his own sense of hunger through communion with God, partaking of that bread which the world knows not of. Mrs. Eddy tells us in Science and Health (p. 15), "Christians rejoice in secret beauty and bounty, hidden from the world, but known to God." Opportunity is discernible when truth first dawns upon human thought, and continues to appear as we continue to awake in His likeness. The countless experiences affording opportunity to prove that there is no impediment to the action of divine law are heaven's tender lessons revealing the spiritual fact that man is the immediate beneficiary under the ever operative law of good, the immediate object of its sustaining, governing power. As this truth dawns, we begin to rejoice in tribulation, to accept gratefully each experience as the rod and staff that comfort us and force us to become conscious of what we are. Lost opportunity and lack of opportunity fade from thought; and fellow-travelers on the upward journey sing in unison:—