"Few there are who comprehend what Christian Science means by the word reflection," says Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, in her article "One Cause and Effect" in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 23). And in an illustration on page 515 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," she points out that the image or reflection in a mirror has no originality or existence apart from the object which it reflects. The reflection can move or change only as the original changes, but the mirrored reflection faithfully and perfectly repeats or reflects its original. Applying this object-lesson to the relation of God to man in divine Science, our Leader makes it clear that, since there is only one cause, man can be only God's reflection or image.
The process whereby selfishness gives place to the meekness and power of God's reflection, man, is one of ceaseless prayer and fasting from material-mindedness. In this work of patient and persistent overcoming of all within one's mentality that contradicts God's perfectness, one must assuredly come to that point of experience where he humbly and gratefully realizes that man is effect, not cause. Divine Science demands that thought shall steadily, but meekly and lovingly, abandon the human material sense of self. It must cease from obstructing or contradicting the one Mind, the one and only cause.
Is it not obvious that the reason why so few understand what Christian Science means by the word "reflection" is that so few keep the First Commandment and faithfully adhere in life-practice to the scientific and metaphysical fact that the only Mind is God, and that man has no intelligence of his own apart from God? Such obedience must spring from a loving and spiritual perception of the claims of the One "altogether lovely," altogether wise, altogether good. Christian Science reveals great rewards for him who abandons fear and human so-called will, and who meekly opens his heart to receive of God's great abundance. To reflect God demands complete and continual denial of the pride and fear which obstinately hold to their false sense of possession. Such denial Jesus referred to as a condition of discipleship when he said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
This effective denial is not a spasmodic repudiation of material selfhood merely when the beliefs attached to it become painful, discordant, or unpleasing; nor is it the denial which is the outcome of a self-righteous, self-glorifying asceticism; but it is the denial of one who, like a little child, is learning constantly to feel the Father's hand guiding and directing his every step. Such a one is learning to turn naturally, spontaneously, and constantly to Him who is lovely and loving enough to command his whole affection. The way may sometimes seem dark and rough, and opposing influences or suggestions may seek to rob us of quiet confidence in Love's overbrooding presence; but in the wholehearted and humble turning to divine Mind, the influence of our Father is again felt blessing and strengthening us, silently reassuring our waiting sense with the promise, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine."
What a happy day dawns for us as the meaning of the word "reflection" begins to be comprehended and loved; for let it be clearly realized that God and His Science can be understood only as Love, good, is seen to be reflected in spiritual love which is unutterably kind and changeless, "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." To touch but the hem of the garment of divine Science is to begin at once to find healing, comfort, freedom of thought, health, peace, joy, and ever fuller evidence of wakening spiritual sense and understanding. Learning to know God as He really is, we experience something of the peace and love that pass all human understanding. They are best expressed in service and in glorifying God ; in humility and gratitude for all the good revealed to us through Christian Science.
Spiritual love for Him in whose perfect love and wisdom the real man forever dwells, dissolves the barriers of material egotism, self-love and self-will, and allows human consciousness to enter upon that quiet and happy sense of life which is the heritage and the home of the sons and daughters of God, the blessed privilege of God's reflection.
