Worldly wisdom often insists that opportunity knocks but once at everyone's door. But worldly concepts are based upon finite reasoning and are always limiting and wholly erroneous. On page 19 of "Christian Healing" Mary Baker Eddy gives the true picture of opportunity in this reassuring statement: "Tireless Being, patient of man's procrastination, affords him fresh opportunities every hour."
Here a question may well arise as to the nature of God's opportunities so bountifully given, and as to how they may be recognized. God's opportunities come in countless ways and to each individual according to his human need or readiness to receive. They come to consciousness as the challenge to think and act rightly, as a favorable occasion to give or receive good, an opportunity to bless others or ourselves. One may be inspired to perform a neighborly act; an employer may feel the desire to deal more wisely with his employees, and an employee to serve his employer better. In other words, any impetus to put into practice the rule, "Love thy neighbour as thyself" (Matt.19:19), is a God-given opportunity.
Again, opportunities may be afforded to learn more of God; to improve our understanding of His goodness; to demonstrate more fully His presence and power through more ready and faithful application of divine Science. Are there not marvelous opportunities and means for spiritual growth within the Christian Science organization? Surely there are many: the daily study of the Lesson-Sermon as found in the Christian Science Quarterly, regular church attendance, subscribing for and reading the periodicals, also writing for them, the grateful acceptance of committee appointments, and the faithful performance of church duties. Indeed, such opportunities for progress toward health and happiness are endless and always at hand. And are there not daily, even hourly, opportunities for us as Christian Scientists to give thanks to our Father-Mother God, and to our beloved Leader, for all that this Science has brought to us in a more abundant life?
