A Whole New Way Of Seeing Yourself
'The sharp experiences of belief in the supposititious life of matter, as well as our disappointments and ceaseless woes, turn us like tired children to the arms of divine Love. Then we begin to learn Life in divine Science." These words were written by Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science. They appear in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (Pg. 322), which explains that we all have the capacity to know and respond to the guidance of God, who loves each one of us.
I have a friend who found this out. She was a beauty queen, who graduated with first-class honors, enjoyed a rewarding career, had a successful executive husband, and lived in a lovely home. Yet she was unhappy. She had been unable to get pregnant. She suffered periodic severe headaches and undiagnosed stomach pains. And there were bad relationships with two members of her family.
Her life was filled with fear. Looking back, she said, "I was afraid of almost everything." You could say those "sharp experiences" made her feel desperate.
One day, my friend picked up her husband's copy of Science and Health, and as she began reading, she discovered a whole new way of looking at herself. What did she find? For one thing, that she wasn't just some fleshly being after all, who was unfortunately subject to bad circumstances. Instead, she had always been a child of God, her divine Parent, who loved her and made her as good as He is.
My friend's fears fell away as she read. Her new view of herself - a spiritual view - was actually healing her of her troubles. Some of her pains disappeared the first day. Science and Health was showing them to be not actual realities. If they were not good, they were not of God. And if they were not of God, they were not real. That was nearly 30 years ago. She continues to study Christian Science. She has three grown sons! She enjoys excellent health. And she is happy.
What about you? You, too, can "begin to learn Life in divine Science." That means finding God's good law and good government in your life. Actually, Science and Health reveals a whole new universe - a universe of spiritual reality created by God. This universe has always existed, but cannot be seen with the human eye. It comes with the discernment of spiritual reality. One Bible writer saw it when he wrote, "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Rev. 21:2). Why "new"? Because it was, up until then, unknown to him. The facts of his (and our) identity, perfect and good, dawned in his thought. This was a practical view of "the kingdom of God," which Jesus Christ had said was "within." It was revealed when the truth was made clear to John.
Would you be willing to give up believing that your identity lies in flesh, blood, bones, and mortality? Could you instead see it as spiritual and perfect - including the true substance of the home, health, satisfaction, productivity, companionship, and everything else you feel is necessary for good existence?
Christian Science is the law of God, which Jesus taught. It reveals that God is your source. In spite of all you might see and hear to the contrary, God is forever the supreme power and is wholly good. Science and Health shows we can know God, as "the great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence" (Pg. 587).
When you see that you have an indestructible relationship to this God, the only force in the universe, you will not feel alone. This perception will give you newfound confidence, and you won't be nearly as afraid as you used to be. You will begin looking beyond imperfections to see the true "you" - the perfect child of God. This view will heal you, and it will help you heal other people.
