The present record of holding one’s breath underwater is 24 minutes and 3 seconds, set by Aleix Segura of Spain in 2016. In spite of today’s circumstances, athletes are continuing to train and set new records running, jumping, swimming, climbing, and more. With these types of achievements comes the understanding that there is no penalty from performing them, only a greater freedom and dominion. We can see evidence of our dominion every time a physical limitation (appearing falsely as law) is challenged and intentionally broken.
Christian Science, the Science of Christ, Truth, establishes proof that material sense is not the true measure of man, which refers to the spiritual identity of all men and women. “Man is idea, the image, of Love; he is not physique,” writes Mary Baker Eddy in the Christian Science textbook (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 475). This affirmation is in accord with the first chapter of Genesis in the Bible, which declares that God, Spirit, created us in His image (see verse 27).
On this basis, we can rise to the understanding that human identity—with a starting point, a material history, and an ultimate end—is not the man of God’s creating, but instead a human representation temporarily claiming to be that man. To know and prove this is true dominion. When we recognize our spiritual identity with God, or divine Mind, we are understanding something of the following: “All that really exists is the divine Mind and its idea, and in this Mind the entire being is found harmonious and eternal. The straight and narrow way is to see and acknowledge this fact, yield to this power, and follow the leadings of truth” (Science and Health, p. 151).
