Article December 12, 1983 Issue

Living lives of spiritual grandeur

HOLLY B. SUHI

A young woman found herself thinking about life more deeply than she ever had. She asked herself, "What really matters in life? What do I really want to gain in living? What do I wish to contribute to my world? Why am I alive?"

Mrs. Eddy provides a keen insight into what life is God-intended to accomplish. Referring to Christ Jesus, she writes in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, "Through the magnitude of his human life, he demonstrated the divine Life."^{ Science and Health, p. 54.} Magnitude? Of course! Christ Jesus' supreme example indicates the potential for important contribution to the world inherent in everyone's being. Every individual is capable of a grand and magnanimous life. Divine Life, which man as God's idea expresses, is magnificent, spiritually grand; it makes man noble, important, and exalted in purpose. As God's spiritual idea, man includes right, meaningful activity and noble life motives, for man expresses the Life that is God.

Why don't we see selflessness and spiritual grandeur expressed more often in people's lives? Even among religious adherents, mediocrity may seem more the rule than the exception. Might the uncomfortable answer to the question be that too often individuals try to use religion to satisfy the cravings of the senses—to enhance or prolong enjoyment in matter? Or—a motive less materialistic but still inferior—use it merely to fill a niche in one's life? Such limited purposes do not bring about great and noble lives. Instead of using religion to fulfill one's personal design for living, the real need is to allow God to use us for His magnificent purpose.

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