Overcoming limitations
OUR lives can seem very limited at times, hemmed in by restrictions. But the situation can be improved. Man, as God actually made him, is spiritual, possessing unlimited freedom and ability. This is the true selfhood of us all, because our creator is boundless Spirit, and God created man to express His nature. As we struggle with difficulties it may not seem easy to realize this or to prove it. But limitations originate in the belief that man's existence is material and is subject to conditions over which he has no control. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, ``In league with material sense, mortals take limited views of all things.''1
Our need is to deny the supposed validity of a mortal view of things and to accept our spiritual sonship with God. Turning to Him in prayer, lifting our thought to the truth of His perfect creation, we'll feel the inspiration of His presence. This may require vigorous denial of specific limitations, perhaps held for so long we have accepted them as part of normal being. Fear, lack, apathy, self-will, may seem very much a part of our lives. But they are not characteristic of man, because God is good alone and man is His likeness. God's man is never fearful, and his needs are always cared for. The only will that governs him is the divine will. These truths may seem impractical; nevertheless, they are highly practical and provable.
I suffered greatly from motion sickness for many years, when traveling by road. As a student of Christian Science, I knew this was illegitimate, that I was allowing circumstances to have more power over me than the one infinite God, the only genuine power. Then the opportunity came to take what promised to be a very enjoyable holiday. But much traveling would be involved. I realized I could either know that God was maintaining my well-being--understand that there was nothing, in truth, that could disturb me--or succumb once again to the insidious beliefs of matter-based thinking. I relied on God and went on that trip. I suffered no ill effects and had a lovely time. Now no one is keener than I am to travel by road. In a small way this healing has given me a greater sense of freedom.
Overcoming any limitation is not a question of turning oneself into a super mortal but of realizing that man, as he really is, isn't mortal at all but immortal. We gain this perception through patient prayer, through purification of thought-- through steady spiritual progress. Then we begin to demonstrate more and more our true being.
We are not going to overcome all limitations at once, but each victory is a step forward. This is spiritual progress, the truest kind of progress. Science and Health states: ``Progress takes off human shackles. The finite must yield to the infinite. Advancing to a higher plane of action, thought rises from the material sense to the spiritual, from the scholastic to the inspirational, and from the mortal to the immortal.''2
Nearly two thousand years ago Christ Jesus was overcoming the limitations imposed by the material senses. He healed even the most severe forms of sickness. He fed thousands with five loaves and two fishes. He walked on the water. The Way-shower understood that matter has no actual power.
Our progress along this line may be modest. But the Psalmist sang of God's creation of man, ``Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.''3 This dominion can increasingly be ours.
1Science and Health, p. 255. 2Ibid., p. 256. 3Psalms 8:6. DAILY BIBLE VERSE Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matthew 17:20
