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Neither sun nor satellite

From the May 1982 issue of The Christian Science Journal


One of the most common facets of the human mind and life is the tendency of some individuals to play the part of a "sun" and of others to assume the role of "satellite."

When you think of a sun and its satellite, the picture that usually comes to mind is a star such as our own sun around which orbit smaller bodies like our earth. But in addition to its astronomical meaning, a satellite can also be "a follower or attendant attached to a prince or other person of importance." Such relationships are likely to be marked by the "satellite's" subservience to the dominant—even dominating—"sun."

In a similar way, we are often drawn to a strong character—perhaps a personal friend or a particular Christian Science practitioner on whose excellent understanding of God we have come to depend. But relying too much on one person may make us place that one, instead of God, in the center of our thoughts. We may unconsciously assign or assume the role of sun or satellite without recognizing it as the human mind's typecasting.

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