THOSE who take up the study of Christian Science and strive to understand and live what they are studying, begin to grasp the fact that joy is a vital reality within the reach of everyone here and now, and may be experienced in spite of human vicissitudes.
The Psalmist sang, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Christian Science shows men how to acquire this "fulness of joy," which banishes despair and regret. Every good deed, every right thought and word, every conquest over error through the truth, helps us onward in the understanding of God and of man as His reflection. It also lovingly assures us of man's birthright of dominion and joy.
How many of us are accepting this birthright and learning how and where the healing effect of joy is to be realized? This is gained through the spiritualization of our consciousness. It entails the full surrender of a material sense of existence for the spiritual. Each step must be a forward one, and there must be a realization that man in God's image is already in full possession of his perfect estate, conscious now that he is the complete expression of infinite Mind. He understands his relationship to God, and is ever expressing the attributes of divine Love and manifesting all the qualities of Mind, among which is joy. Inspiration and progress may be attained if one will consecrate himself to gaining a realization of this truth.
