Article August 8, 1942 Issue

Our Divine Attributes

[Written Especially for Young People]

HENRY E. ASHMUN

Christian Science shows us that in reality we reflect all the divine qualities of our heavenly Father, His perfection, His love, His omniscience—every virtue and godly characteristic which we understand Him to have. It also demonstrates that by reflection we possess absolutely unlimited capabilities and capacities. At the same time it reveals the fact that only as we understand the complete spirituality of God's creation, including ourselves, will these divine attributes and boundless capacities appear to our apprehension in ourselves and in those we meet and with whom we associate.

Sometimes we may find it a bit difficult to see in ourselves or others a clear representation of divine qualities and powers. Material sense claims that we are material and therefore limited to what a human body can do and what a human brain can express. "Mortals," says Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 255), "take limited views of all things." Perfection and completeness and boundless ability often seem remote and difficult if not impossible of realization.

Then let us think for a moment of individuals we know, or about whom we know, who manifest some very outstanding virtue or ability. A certain young man may be regarded as especially courageous. A woman whom we know may be extraordinarily unselfish. A child of our acquaintance has what we call an unusually sweet disposition. Another friend is singularly patient, another remarkable for loyalty and devotion to a worthy cause. And so on through all the list of virtues which human beings express. Let us, for good measure, add the noteworthy beauty and charm manifested by some of our fellows.

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