To the Christian Scientist, whose thought is continually unfolding to spiritual realities, the word "opportunity" has a very different meaning from that which it has to the unregenerate human consciousness, which regards opportunity as finite, fleeting, and uncertain. The Christian Scientist knows that it is ever present, always adequate; for to him opportunity means freedom to learn more about God—Life, Truth, and Love. The way is always open for him to do this; and he adds thereby to his understanding of the harmony and joy of the real, spiritual man, of the beauty and perfection of the spiritual universe. Since our real progress lies in spiritual activity, we must constantly look to God, divine Love, for inspiration and guidance. In this way, as we gradually attain greater understanding of man's unity with our Father-Mother God, there is revealed to us the manifestation of an enlarged sense of success and usefulness.
Frequently is heard the complaint from some one that he lacks opportunity for progress in his daily affairs. He needs to be reminded that opportunity is more a matter of individual preparedness than of external circumstances. In the world of business, for example, what some one may consider an opportunity another may blindly pass by. Since there is "no new thing under the sun." real opportunity includes the unfolding apprehension of the existing perfection of the spiritual universe. The spiritual universe is the same "yesterday, and to day, and for ever;" but our concept of God becomes clearer and more perfect as the false incumbrances born of material thinking are laid aside.
Opportunity is necessarily associated with service. If occasion is sought for mere personal gain, the gratification of selfish ambitions or material indulgences, then it is evident that there is no desire to use God-given opportunities for spiritual profit. The real opportunity which divine Mind presents, involves spiritual growth and self-immolation. As unselfish service is practiced, peace, joy, success, follow as the natural fruitage of closer unity with God, good. To look for a chance to advance selfish plans is to thwart and overlook God-given opportunity, which, when improved, results in permanent achievement through spiritual progress. So-called opportunity to indulge in any activity which does not lead one closer to God is not opportunity at all, but temptation. Men often mistake temptation for opportunity, only to find through suffering that the material progress of the self-seeker results in spiritual retrogression or lost opportunity. If, on the other hand, when the temptation comes to indulge in selfish material ambitions, motives, and desires, it is resisted with the truth that spiritual progress is alone worthy, then one has replaced temptation with true opportunity. Thus, by reversal, every false suggestion of error is made an opportunity to reveal the spiritual fact.
