Reflection—what a depth of meaning in that word! Infinite possibilities of achievement are in store for each one who will ponder sufficiently the truth of spiritual reflection. Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 23), "God is seen only in that which reflects good, Life, Truth, Love—yea, which manifests all His attributes and power, even as the human likeness thrown upon the mirror repeats precisely the looks and actions of the object in front of it." Pondering this statement, imbibing its meaning, gives a sure and reliable foundation for life practice.
If one stood before a mirror, could the reflection in that mirror hesitate to move in unison with him? Could it follow but partially his movements, or must not the reflection act in complete accord with whatever the original does? Can anything come between the original and the reflection, thereby severing the oneness of activity? No, that relationship remains unchanged. The reflection is always responding to every action of its original.
Can we not glean from this illustration a pertinent fact regarding the perfect man, God's image and likeness? Mortal experiences of the Adam-dream are false suppositions. The sense of unhappiness, sorrow, chaos, suffering, is the dream which the dreamer dreams he is having, but God knows nothing of it, for His man is His perfect reflection, never ceasing to carry out His behest, always acting as He directs, always knowing as He knows. God and His universe, including man, are real, and the Adam-dream is unreal; the one present and actual, the other only appearing to itself to be going on. In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 249): "God never slumbers, and His likeness never dreams. Mortals are the Adam dreamers." Obviously, then, it follows that all mankind needs is to awaken to see that man has never actually ceased to be God's image and likeness. Nothing has to be done to man to change him, but mortals must be aroused to see that man remains, throughout eternity, the beloved son of the Father, in whom He is well pleased.
