Have we ever been tempted to believe that life is a struggle? Has mortal sense suggested that we are limited in opportunity and ability, and has this suggestion perhaps found a willing listener in us? If so, then we are accepting a false concept of man, a concept that would place us in a limited experience, fettered by mortal beliefs. Such so-called life is mere existence, filled with constant struggles to keep going. Christian Science shows us how to work out of such a false sense. Through its teachings we learn that man is not a mortal, limited being, but rather is he an idea of divine Mind; he reflects his Father-Mother God as a complete expression of good and has dominion over all.
In defining the word "existence," a dictionary says in part, "Being with reference to some limiting condition." To accept a limited sense of being is to reject Biblical promise, for in John we read that wonderful statement of the Master (10:10): "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." There is divine authority for claiming that we are entitled to life that is filled with goodness, and such a claim must necessarily reject all suggestion of struggle and limitation. However, it is important to see that such abundance does not result from the accumulation of material things, but rather appears as the result of the manifestation of the Christ-idea in consciousness. Striving daily to express our true nature as the child of God brings forth wonderful and satisfying results.
There is no more inspiring proof of man's God-given dominion than the life of our Way-shower, Christ Jesus. He claimed dominion in every situation that confronted him, and the New Testament gives many accounts of how he silenced the suggestions of limitation and struggle wherever and however they claimed to appear in his experience. Jesus exercised authority over the suggestions of mortal thought.
Through our study of Christian Science we too must learn to exercise authority, for such a course is claiming our true or spiritual selfhood. In the first chapter of the Bible we are told (Gen. 1:26), "God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." This statement, then, is our authority for claiming dominion as an inherent part of our daily experience.
Our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, recognized the great truth of spiritual dominion, which was so thoroughly illustrated in the life of Christ Jesus. In "Unity of Good" she makes mention of this dominion in the following statement (p. 42): "With Christ, Life was not merely a sense of existence, but a sense of might and ability to subdue material conditions." So those who follow the Master's teaching can claim dominion, which a dictionary defines as "sovereign or supreme authority." How different this is from mere existence, or "being with reference to some limiting condition."
The question confronting each one of us is, Am I going to accept the mortal sense of things, or am I going to claim my heritage as a son of God? The answer is really quite simple, for it involves only the rejection of sense testimony and the acceptance of our true selfhood. Such acceptance comes readily as we set aside material beliefs and understand more of our true nature as the image and likeness of God.
A student of Christian Science had studied this Science in a halfhearted manner for a period of many years. During those years her own experience had been rather unsatisfactory. While there was an abundance of material things, there was an apparent lack of those qualities of thought that bring to one peace, happiness, and satisfaction. Life seemed to be mere existence. A change in position, though it brought greater financial gain, did not bring a sense of happiness and accomplishment. As a hobby, she did some dressmaking. She enjoyed this activity because it gave opportunity for creative effort and originality, but the time she could devote to it seemed limited.
Then there came a time when she faced estrangement and loss of a loved one. In her hour of need she realized that she should know more of God and of man as His image and likeness. She began earnest and consecrated daily study of Christian Science, and after prayerful consideration she was led to apply for class instruction.
Her experience of class instruction opened new avenues of thought to her. She perceived more of her true nature as a child of God. As the truths of being unfolded in a fuller and more complete way in her thinking, she saw that she did not have to be limited by false beliefs, but that right then she could have all good and could be engaged in useful, fruitful activity which would be a joy to her and a service to others. Accordingly she made the necessary arrangements to open a shop and engage in dressmaking. Each day she claimed her right to dominion over limitation, and each day she saw increased evidence of God's love and care. She began to see that her only business was to be about her Father's business, the business of expressing Him in all that she did. In working on this point, she gave prayerful thought to the seven synonyms for God which Mrs. Eddy gives us in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and which are Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, and Love.
It was obvious to her that she needed to express Life in order to carry on her work. Also it was evident that the more vital, vigorous, healthy, harmonious was the sense of life that she expressed, the more capable she would be. She knew that everyone likes to do business with one who is kind and considerate. To express Love would surely bring to her a better sense of kindness and consideration, and these two qualities of thought would assist her in her work.
To be successful in her work, she knew it was necessary for her to express intelligence. In her study she had found that in Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says of "intelligence" (p. 469), "It is the primal and eternal quality of infinite Mind, of the triune Principle,—Life, Truth, and Love,—named God." Therefore the more clearly she expressed Mind, God, the more intelligent would be her actions. She also saw that because Mind, God, is infinite, man, who is His image and likeness, expresses infinite ideas. The application of this truth brought originality into her work in the matter of design, color, and form. She saw that spiritual ideas are manifested without repetition because of the infinitude of Mind's expression.
Many times the suggestion of confusion confronted her in her work. Patterns would become lost, other items mislaid. So, in pondering, she knew that a better sense of order would be helpful. This sense, she knew, could come the moment she accepted a right sense of Principle, the only lawmaker, the source of all orderliness. Experience had indicated too that honesty and integrity were definite assets in business. From this she recognized that the cultivation of the true meaning of the synonym Truth would lead her into a better sense of these necessary requirements in business.
Because her sense of business in the past had seemed so precarious, she yearned for a more stable concept of it. Further study and contemplation showed her that the expression of the qualities of Spirit, true substance, would bring stability to her activity. For it is only a material sense of things that fosters uncertainty, whereas a spiritual sense of being brings permanence and changeless good to all. A truer sense of beauty, color, and harmony came to her as she more clearly expressed Soul, God.
The unfoldment of these truths to her consciousness resulted in wonderful changes taking place. Her work reflected originality and perfection of detail. Customers recommended her to their friends, and soon the business began to expand. Within a year's time it was necessary to employ five others to take care of the work. None of this increase came through what are termed generally accepted methods of business expansion or extensive advertising. It was brought about as the student recognized that her only true business was to be about the Father's business—the business of expressing good and claiming dominion over limited thinking.
But, best of all, the false sense of mere existence was replaced with a great sense of joy, happiness, and spontaneity of thinking. Life was to her a fruitful experience, one in which each day was joyously anticipated because of the opportunities it offered her to express God while serving others.
Mrs. Eddy writes in "Retrospection and Introspection" (p. 66): "Christian Science gives vitality to religion, which is no longer buried in materiality. It raises men from a material sense into the spiritual understanding and scientific demonstration of God." When we are raised into spiritual understanding, we have the dominion that enables us to be resurrected from the sepulcher of material thinking.
God has decreed that man shall have dominion over all. Knowing this, we can overcome all the arguments of the carnal mind. We can stop being tossed to and fro by false beliefs and claim our perfect, immortal selfhood, our true status. Then we shall have the abundant life of which Jesus spoke and experience the freedom from limitation that Paul voiced in his immortal words (Phil. 4:13), "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
