When I became aware of a swelling under my arm, which became very inflamed and sore, I prayed. I turned my thoughts to God, and I was grateful that He made everyone in His image. I also found fresh inspiration in considering some aspects of creation as recorded in the first chapter of Genesis. On the first day, God's light dispels the darkness, and from that point, the wonder and glory of creation unfold. I noted that the darkness had no power to repel the light. Furthermore, even the night was to be ruled by light. To me, this showed that God's light, which is also called the Christ, is reaching humanity in every age. It pierces the darkness of materialism. I rejoiced to know that the distress I was feeling could never repel the power of Christ or override the power of spiritual understanding.
I also read the description of the sixth day, when after making man, male and female, in His image and likeness, God gave them dominion. I asked myself, What is dominion? Since our whole being is image, reflection—dominion can come only by reflection, by reflecting the original. So our dominion is not an authoritative rule over all things, but the reflection of God's dominion. God is Life, Truth, and Love, governing all.
Dominion is divine not human, and it comes to us through the dawning of Christ in human consciousness. In Science and Health Mary Baker Eddy declares, "Christ illustrates that blending with God, his divine Principle, which gives man dominion over all the earth." Science and Health, p. 316.
