Article September 29, 1951 Issue

HUMILITY—LENS AND PRISM

MARIA SOUBIER

The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, makes this arresting statement in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 356): "Humility is lens and prism to the understanding of Mind-healing; it must be had to understand our textbook; it is indispensable to personal growth, and points out the chart of its divine Principle and rule of practice."

In the first few words of this statement two striking metaphors are used to amplify the meaning of the beautiful quality of humility. First, humility is called a lens; and secondly, it is called a prism. In other words, humility is likened to that which brings together and blends into a clear, distinct image, and also to that which separates, or divides, into its integral parts. At first glance these two figures of speech may seem to suggest opposite actions; but a closer study reveals the coincidence, or spiritual agreement, of the two in the work of Mind-healing, in which both activities are requisite.

Let us consider first the lens. Most adults remember their introduction to the function of the lens when as children they were shown a magnifying glass and given a demonstration of how it draws the rays of sunlight together into one tiny spot, thus producing enough heat to ignite a pile of dry leaves or pieces of crumpled paper. Not all the rays of light were thus gathered up, for darkness did not ensue. But those focused by the magnifying glass were separated distinctly and definitely, and they kindled a flame.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"FROM A BOUNDLESS BASIS"