Editorial February 6, 1984 Issue

Broadening our perspective

BARBARA-JEAN STINSON

The Infrared Astronomy Satellite, IRAS, recently discovered what appears to be a planetary system ringing the star Vega. This discovery brings to light another fascinating piece of information about our vast and beautiful universe. But for this grand telescope to be able to "see" the planetary system, it had to be positioned out in space away from the atmosphere of earth. Only then could it sense the heat radiation that revealed the apparent planetary system's presence.

Do we often wish that we could broaden our spiritual perspective and thus perceive and understand more of God's good and perfect spiritual universe? Then, we need to get out beyond the atmosphere of materialistic thinking that dims our perception of spiritual realities. How are we to do this?

In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, "Starting from a higher standpoint, one rises spontaneously, even as light emits light without effort ...."^{Science and Health, p. 262.} Our "higher standpoint" must include a spiritual understanding of the infinite, all-knowing, all-seeing, divine Mind; of man as God's reflection; and of ourselves and others as identified with this concept of man. Thinking of ourselves as human beings who are always struggling to learn and perceive a little more of spiritual reality is like trying to perceive Vega's planetary system from a telescope positioned on the ground. We may be on the highest mountain peak of human goodness and intelligent reasoning, and that can lead to a glimpse of God's true creation. But even then, the atmosphere that surrounds us—the belief that man is mortal—may cloud our full view of life as it is in Spirit.