Article February 22, 1947 Issue

Grace or Glamour?

MARY RETTA TITUS

One of the foremost desires in human thought is to present a favorable or so-called attractive appearance. In this connection the word "glamour" is often encountered. A costume or a person may be described as glamorous. This mysterious thing called glamour has become one of the false gods which some mortals worship because it oftentimes gains personal recognition and approval. Glamour is defined by Webster as "a spell or charm, as one which deceives the sight." There is food for thought in this definition.

Time and effort are spent by young and old in trying to copy the appearance or manner of another who has an attractive personality, thus losing sight of the true beauty that characterizes one's God-given selfhood. Happiness cannot be found in obscuring individuality in ways that are deceptive or spellbinding, for the way to real happiness and satisfaction is in learning and expressing more of the true individuality of man.

True beauty has been revealed in Christian Science as belonging to every man. God does not make some of His children beautiful and others unsightly. God is Soul, and man, the image and likeness of God, reflects always the qualities of Soul, even the perfection of beauty. Mary Baker Eddy in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," writes (pp. 247, 248), "The recipe for beauty is to have less illusion and more Soul, to retreat from the belief of pain or pleasure in the body into the unchanging calm and glorious freedom of spiritual harmony." Again she says (ibid., p. 247): "Comeliness and grace are independent of matter. Being possesses its qualities before they are perceived humanly. Beauty is a thing of life, which dwells forever in the eternal Mind and reflects the charms of His goodness in expression, form, outline, and color." Then the way to true beauty is to have less glamour and more grace, less deception and more of our true nature, less of personality and more individuality. This makes beauty possible for everyone.

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