In an age of self-discovery, self-assertion, and consciousness-raising, it is a great joy to know that man already is a wholly fulfilled spiritual individuality. His identity is established because he reflects the divine Ego, God. In truth each of us is the likeness of this Ego, and we do not need to search for our identity. Our selfhood is intact; it cannot be abrogated. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, "The one Ego, the one Mind or Spirit called God, is infinite individuality, which supplies all form and comeliness and which reflects reality and divinity in individual spiritual man and things." Science and Health, p. 281.
Although "ego" is usually defined in psychoanalytical theory as one division of the psyche, Mrs. Eddy, in her writings, turns us from the material concept to the spiritual counter fact—the one Ego, divine consciousness. The Ego and the Father are inseparably one. And we are the offspring of this Ego, His image and likeness, as the Bible teaches. What a comforting thought it is to realize that we are not a vast number of separate egos, sometimes in conflict with each other.
When we understand that man is eternally at one with God as His image or idea, we begin to see the nature of our true individuality. Man is because God is! God is the one cause and creator, the source of our spiritual identity, our only real identity. As God's ideas, we express Him in such qualities as lovingkindness, intelligence, integrity, patience, humility. Recognizing that we are the reflection, or image, of the one Ego assures us that we cannot be separated from our beloved Father—that actually we always express His divine nature in an infinite range of spiritual qualities and activities.
But we have work to do if we are to bring out more of this true selfhood now. We must be willing to renounce a personal sense of self in our day-to-day activities—to give up self-indulgence, willfulness, self-justification, and self-love. These prevent us from expressing our true individuality. Christ Jesus' experience in the garden of Gethsemane, when he struggled valiantly to yield to God's will, is our example and inspiration.See Matt. 26:36-45.
To relinquish the false sense of ego may be challenging, since the carnal mind would resist our efforts. It would always argue for its own mortal identity. But it is a false identity and can fulfill none of its promises or threats. It is not our true being; and through spiritual growth we learn to understand ourselves as we truly are, the children of God. Then we increasingly recognize that the sacrifice of a material sense of self is not loss but gain.
We are not working alone. The Christ, the true idea of God, is ever with us, illumining our consciousness with the truth of our identity.
By beginning in small ways we practice disciplining our thinking and living. We stop ruminating about personalities and other people's affairs. We learn to be about our Father's business. We are more moderate in all our activities, not expressing personal opinions so frequently in our conversations, not overeating, or overtalking. We do small kindnesses, and even big ones, without telling everyone about them.
Our Master's life was a daily demonstration of the Christ. Jesus showed what it means to be about our Father's business: brotherly love, forgiveness, compassion, spiritual understanding, holiness. As we learn to do all things with a humbleness of spirit, we will be following our Way-shower and proving, to some extent, Mrs. Eddy's declaration "Humility is the stepping-stone to a higher recognition of Deity." Miscellaneous Writings, p. 1.
Although the shedding of the false sense of self is a continuing process, once in a while we may catch a glimpse of just how complete man's Christly identity is. This happened to me when, as a new student of Christian Science, I was struggling with self-centeredness and was not yet willing to respond to the activity of the Christ. I became very upset over a friend's behavior. Angry and resentful, I called a Christian Science practitioner for help. The practitioner listened to my outpourings against the friend who, I believed, had caused me to be jealous, envious, and have hurt feelings. When I finished my story, the practitioner said gently, "Don't take yourself so seriously." In the quiet that followed, I felt the disturbed and disturbing feelings fade away, and a feeling of peace descended upon me. That was the end of the problem.
In retrospect I can see that my false sense of self-importance and self-justification was dissolved by the practitioner's clear understanding of the one Ego. The action of the healing Christ transformed my thinking. Science and Health states, "The understanding that the Ego is Mind, and that there is but one Mind or intelligence, begins at once to destroy the errors of mortal sense and to supply the truth of immortal sense." Science and Health, p. 216.
What a joy it is to know that God, the divine Mind, supplies each one of us with the spiritual qualities that constitute our unique individuality and that this is our only real identity! No bogus mortal selfhood could replace or interfere with the expression of man's true spiritual being. As we turn away from the self-centeredness of a false mortal sense, we increasingly follow Christ in our demonstration of our sonship with God.
In truth, there is no mortal mind, no mortal ego or will to disturb or be disturbed. All is God, the one Mind, or Ego, and His reflection, and He is the only self-existence.
