Article September 20, 1993 Issue

What color is spiritual reality?

True joy and beauty come from a far different source—and have a totally different nature—than we may have supposed.

Elaine R. Follis

ONE morning as a group of Christian Scientists were talking together, someone posed a question: What color is spiritual reality? There was silence for quite a long time. Facial expressions were communicating surprise, deep thoughtfulness, even some mild annoyance; but nobody was saying a word. At length someone spoke up, and in a tone of resignation declared, "Well, I guess it would have to be beige. After all, beige is peaceful, neutral, harmless ... dull." And at that, everyone laughed.

That conversation revealed something very important: if we see spiritual reality as vague and boring, it's likely that we'll progress slowly in our demonstration of it.

But is that really the way Mary Baker Eddy describes the realm of Spirit, of pure and harmonious being? In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures she writes: "From the infinite elements of the one Mind emanate all form, color, quality, and quantity, and these are mental, both primarily and secondarily. Their spiritual nature is discerned only through the spiritual senses" (p. 512).

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