Article March 23, 1957 Issue

INDIVIDUALITY AND FILLING ONE'S NICHE

VIRGINIA E. ATHERTON

Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, points out in her autobiography, "Retrospection and Introspection," that no person can fill another's place or fulfill another's mission. She says (p. 70): "No person can take the individual place of the Virgin Mary. No person can compass or fulfil the individual mission of Jesus of Nazareth. No person can take the place of the author of Science and Health, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. Each individual must fill his own niche in time and eternity."

One dictionary definition of "niche" reads in part, "a place, condition of life or employment, position, or the like, suitable for the capabilities or merits of a person or qualities of a thing." One's niche may be thought of as one's human occupation, be it in the home, in the office, on the farm, in the factory, or at school. To fill this niche successfully, one must be in the place where he can best glorify God.

The Apostle Paul said (Eph. 4:7, 11, 12): "Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ... And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

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