Article October 8, 1904 Issue

"Reflection."

W. A. BOSWELL.

The idea of reflection, when illustrated by the dewdrops, each of which reflects the sun, always seemed to me to imply a good deal of monotony, and it was only when traveling through some very pretty, peaceful scenery that the idea of infinite variety in connection with reflection came to me.

Everything we see,—all the beauty of form, color, and texture,—the various shades of green, from the bluish tinge of some kinds of fir, poplar, etc., to the vivid yellow green of the plane—tree; from the feathery lightness of the acacia to the sturdy strength of the oak, the myriad variations in color of the flowers in field and hedgerow, the rippling shadow and quiet pool,—all are known to us simply through reflection, and each flower and leaf selects from the white light that particular color which it reflects. We thus perceive the various effects and become conscious of the wonderful variety that is contained in that white light, and as the light fades so the color fades out of the landscape, and we know that all the beauty is really due to the light and so to the sun, the source of that light.

Mrs. Eddy often takes the sun as a symbol of God, and if we substitute the reality for the symbol we can see in the same way that all "the milk of human kindness"—the brotherly love and affection,—the sense of duty that nerves men to deeds of heroism, all the nobility of life,—all are reflections of the great white light emanating from that great "central sun of its own systems of ideas" (Science and Health, p. 209). All the works of the greatest thinkers, those who have led men up from the mere bestiality of life in matter, through its higher stratum, mortal mind, whether manifested in painting, music, literature, or physical science,—all these manifestations of intelligence, owe any approximation to truth which they may contain, to the reflection of that Light which must in time be recognized by all as coming only from the one Mind, God, omniscient and omnipotent.

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