Many years ago a Christian Science practitioner said to the writer, "A child of God must be not only healthy, virtuous, intelligent, happy, and successful, but also beautiful." The writer did not understand this statement at the time, for she believed beauty to be merely an outward characteristic, in no way essential to one's practice of religion and having nothing to do with a child of God.
At times the writer would ask herself, "Why is it that those well advanced in Christian Science frequently manifest so much beauty?" A Christian Science lecturer answered this question for her, although she did not put the question to him. As soon as he had greeted her, he expressed his joy in the beautiful weather; then he admired the beauty of the flowers that had been placed in the reception room. After the lecture he said, "The auditorium was beautiful in the sunshine," and, looking around him as they were leaving the large concert hall, he commented, "A very beautiful building."
So that's it, the writer thought, these people love beauty—the mountains and valleys, lakes and meadows, fields and forests, their own gardens—but they never forget that the real identity of all things is spiritual, the reflection of Spirit, Love, manifesting harmony, holiness, and inviolable beauty.
