Who has not at some time echoed the familiar strain, "I want the better things of life"? But just what are these better things so universally wanted? In order to discover the thoughts underlying this common yearning the writer asked many people from various walks of life their concept of "the better things of life." Too often the answers showed that the desire for material wealth, worldly honors, cultural achievements, thrilling pleasure, and ease in matter occupies a large place in the thoughts of men. The average person looks with awe upon the individual animated with a purpose beyond the acquisition of money or power. Yet evidence goes to prove that matter with all it involves has utterly failed to satisfy or safeguard mankind.
Christian Science is dispelling the darkness of material thinking and is illuming the understanding with the spiritual fact that because God, Spirit, is the only real substance, matter has neither reality nor substance. Man, as a spiritual idea, reflects boundless good emanating from the divine source. Recognizing this constant outpouring of good that God bestows on all, Christ Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). and accordingly he demonstrated Life's fullness as no other has ever done. He proved for the benefit of all humanity that the Life which is God is evidenced in lasting riches that surpass in value any in gathering of matter. The keynote then to the attainment of "the better things of life" is the reaching out for spiritual understanding rather than material benefits.
With characteristic directness Mary Baker Eddy tells us in these words what is worth attaining (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 428): "To divest thought of false trusts and material evidences in order that the spiritual facts of being may appear,—this is the great attainment by means of which we shall sweep away the false and give place to the true." To welcome only God's thoughts into consciousness is to begin to prove man's oneness with divine Mind. Then, can we possibly aim for anything higher than to fill thought with good, so that there will be no room for the evil beliefs of mortal mind and their deleterious penalties? When the Christ, God's idea, enters consciousness, human woes are swept away as naturally as clouds are dispersed by the sunlight.
