Why are we concerned about our men in service abroad, and anxious lest we at home experience disease and other discords? Is it not the belief in vulnerable, unprotected corporeality which causes us to fear for ourselves and others? We could not fear for the safety of anyone if we knew him as an incorporeal, spiritual idea, whose high destiny is the God-maintained expression of good.
Mary Baker Eddy, the inspired Leader of the Christian Science movement, tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 591) that man is "the compound idea of infinite Spirit; the spiritual image and likeness of God; the full representation of Mind." Mind is not represented by inert corporeality; "the compound idea of infinite Spirit," man, is never at a disadvantage, because he reflects the all-power, the all-knowing, and the all-action of Spirit, thus embodying all good.
What then is this corporeality for which we fear? Is it not illusion, a belief of mortal mind? Mrs. Eddy has written (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 25). "The physical senses, or sensuous nature, I called error and shadow." If we understood corporeality to be shadow, would we believe that life is vested in it, or would we fear that it had substance that could be diseased or injured? Awareness of the illusory nature both of matter or corporeality and of its accompanying distresses, would free us from the fearful belief that our existence or well-being is ever at the mercy of these encumbering limitations. Man is not bound by corporeality, but he enjoys the freedom of fetterless and limitless Mind.
