Editorial January 27, 1945 Issue

Identity and Place

Margaret Morrison

One of the pleas that comes most frequently to the Christian Science practitioner is: "Please help me find my right place. I know I am not in my right place." This haunting sense of dissatisfaction, of being out of place, can be fully healed only by a realization of the fact that one finds his right place as he accepts and lives his true selfhood, the expression of divine Mind. Identity and place are one, because a realization of true identity places one in the unassailable position of at-one-ment with God, the only absolutely sure and profitable position there is.

To the student of Christian Science one of the most familiar pages of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," is page 475, where Mary Baker Eddy, the author of that textbook, gives us a most comprehensive definition of man. A part of that definition is, "the compound idea of God, including all right ideas." When this is accepted as a definition of one's true selfhood, what a vista of opportunities opens up! One must include in his real identity "all right ideas," and accompanying those ideas the capacity and wisdom to act upon them and demonstrate their power and ability. Thus one need not confine his activities to a human measure of his talents or abilities, what may seem to be inherited limitations or lack of educational advantages. Realizing his position of at-one-ment with God, with infinite intelligence and wisdom, one need not fear to accept new and broader opportunities for service which will present themselves to him as the result of this acceptance of his true position. He will not look for a position in human activities from the standpoint that he has no position, any more than he would search the house for a pair of shoes he did not possess. He will first accept his assured position in Mind, and then go forth in confidence.

This true position or place must be maintained through all the vicissitudes of the human dream, and its demands be fulfilled. What are some of these demands? Integrity, purity of purpose, unsullied reflection of Mind and its divine qualities, the fearlessness of Love, the joy and peace of assured safety. Perhaps no character in Bible history better illustrates this maintenance of true place than does Joseph, sold into Egypt and slavery by his brothers. Through all temptations and vilifying imprisonment and hatred, he maintained unmoved his position in righteousness, his purity, integrity, discernment, wisdom, love, and forgiveness.

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