Article January 8, 1955 Issue

THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS

VERA H. SHEPHARD

The phrase "beauty of holiness" is one which Mary Baker Eddy apparently cherished, since she uses it a number of times. In some of these citations she refers not only to the beauty of holiness but also to the perfection of man's being. It is plain that beauty of holiness refers to beauty of Spirit, not of matter; beauty of Soul, not of physique. Such beauty is ageless, changeless, because it is in Mind and expresses itself in loveliness.

"How do I look?" We hear this common query on every side. On page 261 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy admonishes, "Look away from the body into Truth and Love, the Principle of all happiness, harmony, and immortality." As we turn thought away from the body and look into Truth, our thought dwells on perfection, symmetry, and beauty–on the truth of being. To look into Love is to reflect loveliness and harmony. Instead of being concerned with how we look physically, we might well ask ourselves: "How do I think? How do I love?" Because we are what we think and what we love. Thought is proved to be the sculptor.

Cause and effect are inseparable. In Proverbs (23:7) we read that as one "thinketh in his heart, so is he." A sad, unhappy face is the effect of sad, unhappy thoughts. Gross, greedy, angry, and selfish thoughts result in coarse, gross, unlovely expressions. Whereas peaceful, happy, beautiful expressions are the evidence of kind, loving, unselfish thoughts. The so-called mortal, material body is the canvas upon which our thoughts are portrayed. To change the picture, one must change the thoughts which produce the picture.

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