Article January 31, 1931 Issue

The "correct view"

NELLY S. GATES

One summer evening, at the sunset hour, two students of Christian Science stood on the shore of one of our northland lakes. To reach the lake they had traveled eastward, frequently turning about to enjoy, through the tall trees, the beauty of the brilliant sunset which was bringing to a close a Sabbath day quietly spent in the open. Having reached the lake they were attracted by the unusual splendor of the sky, its masses of fleecy clouds tinged with colors from the sunset. Overhead, at the left, the clouds were fringed with orchid tints; more directly overhead, rose tints blended with and outlined the white mass. To the right, an open space of blue added to the beauty of the picture.

After enjoying for some time the ever changing clouds, their ease and grace of motion, they noticed that the lake held an exact reflection of the sky picture. Looking into the water they saw at the left orchid-tinted clouds; directly below, the rose-touched mass; at the right, the open space of blue. Sky and lake seemed identical when closely studied and compared. Reflection was complete! In this quiet hour the words of Mrs. Eddy on page 247 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," came into consciousness: "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. It is Love which paints the petal with myriad hues, glances in the warm sunbeam, arches the cloud with the bow of beauty, blazons the night with starry gems, and covers earth with loveliness."

The moments passed, and in the spiritual quietness were heard the words of the Psalmist, "Be still, and know that I am God." Thought was lifted above the symbolic twilight scene into the realm of reality. Again words of our Leader, vibrant with their joyous message, cheered the listeners: "God made man in His own image, to reflect the divine Spirit" (ibid., p. 516). In the light of this truth the constant movements of the clouds told of the tireless, joyous activity of man in God's likeness, an activity in which is no suggestion of haste or disorder, but the perfect expression of divine law, order, and freedom. Activity thus expressed is the natural outcome when one is earnestly striving to reflect every divine quality and capacity, even "the beauty of holiness."

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