Article June 25, 1932 Issue

The Larger View

JEANNETTE W. MC MULLIN

On page 255 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has written, "In league with material sense, mortals take limited views of all things." Because of these limited views, and a seeming inability to look beyond the circle of personal interests by lifting thought to a height where a larger view may be obtained, spiritual growth is often retarded, and opportunities for greater service are unperceived.

But Mrs. Eddy has written (Science and Health, p. 258), "The human capacities are enlarged and perfected in proportion as humanity gains the true conception of man and God." As through our study of Christian Science we gain a better understanding of God and His spiritual creation, and, in the words of Paul in his epistle to the Colossians, "put off the old man with his deeds" and "put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him," thought becomes enlarged and spiritual perception tranfigures the material sense of things. We then begin to give less importance to the trivial and temporal, and our circle is widened to include all mankind. New opportunities for service are discerned, and our outlook becomes world-wide.

Before beginning his picture, a skillful artist is careful to look at his subject as a whole, in order that unimportant details may not stand out too prominently. As he works, keeping this larger view always in thought, and subordinating all that would detract from the strength and dignity of his finished work, he gains in the understanding of his art, finds joy in his work, and his success is more assured. So we, as workers in Christian Science, are striving to hold thought steadfastly to that only which is good and worthy of being brought into prominence, and to see in our fellow workers only those qualities which are real and enduring. In this way we may help to bring out harmony in all our undertakings and be truly helpful to those with whom we are associated.

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