Article December 29, 1951 Issue

REFLECTION

MARTHA J. BUCKNER

One afternoon we were attracted by noises from the front of the house. There we observed high school students gathered around our parked car watching a robin pecking at his image in a hubcap. He would peck for a while at his supposed rival and then fall to the ground exhausted, later to resume the pecking. Some of the students laughed at his plight, others expressed pity, but most of them considered him stupid and foolish.

A student of Christian Science recognized in this incident a portrayal of the nonintelligence and confusion of mortal existence. Mary Baker Eddy describes it in these words in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 220): "Mortal mind produces its own phenomena, and then charges them to something else,—like a kitten glancing into the mirror at itself and thinking it sees another kitten." Further thought caused the Scientist to ask herself: "What do I understand of reflection? Do I comprehend it better than the robin?"

Mrs. Eddy states that few people understand what is meant by reflection as Christian Science interprets it (see Science and Health, p. 301). It was their lack of understanding of reflection which incited the people against Christ Jesus. His knowledge of himself as the reflection of God enabled him always to act with God-given dominion. The populace, thinking he considered himself God, threatened to stone him when he declared (John 10: 30), "I and my Father are one." The Master knew well that a reflection does not originate: it merely gives back the qualities of the original; it does not add to or detract from the original.

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