Truth and Appearances

How honest are you? How faithfully does your outward appearance mirror your inner self? To answer such questions truthfully, one needs to search even deeper than one's human thoughts and motives. The human race has been so conditioned to accept as normal certain phases of dishonesty and hypocrisy that something more than human reason is required to learn the truth. Distorted standards and false, traditional beliefs need to be stripped away in order to get the facts.

The Bible says, "Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."  I Sam 16:7; Only the wisdom of divine Mind can clearly discern the true value of our own and others' thoughts, and one who has long considered himself above reproach, when he learns to utilize the spiritual insight of divine intelligence, may be horrified to discover what deep flaws there are in his own character, and how wrongly he has appraised the character of a neighbor.

Christian Science shows that in the reality of God's universe man, the idea of God, reflects the nature of Deity in exact likeness. He expresses the qualities of eternal Life, Truth, and Love. God's sons and daughters each include the attributes of Soul, which are plainly apparent as their individual identity. They are governed by divine Principle. They manifest the wisdom and intelligence of infinite Mind, and without dissimulation or hesitation display their good nature to the world. They have no shortcomings to conceal, and no reluctance to disclose the delicate treasures of their affections, since in God's allness there are no bestial elements to rend them. Dishonesty and hypocrisy do not exist in the true, spiritual kingdom. Each individual has his own niche in the divine plan and has no fear of being deprived of it. Competition and mad ambition are unknown. No contriving and no posturing are needed to impress. Integrity is universal.

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February 20, 1971
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