Editorial September 11, 1995 Issue

Reflecting God

Barbara M. Vining

Woods . Rolling hills. Rocks. Narrow, winding roads. Ponds reflecting the surrounding beauty. An individual here and there stopping beside the road to take in the tranquil scene. All these are common sights along the New England countryside.

There is something especially stirring about a calm, glistening body of water reflecting the beauties of nature. There is a sacred feeling about it. And we want to linger there. A favorite psalm in the Bible directly connects God with the imagery of "still waters," saying, "The Lord is my shepherd .... he leadeth me beside the still waters." The reflection provided by quiet waters symbolizes man's reflection of Spirit, God—and this spiritual reflection is the true identity of each of us, the identity we should mentally linger in, so to speak, and express wherever we go. There is nothing more refreshing and renewing than to reflect the nature of God, since He is Life, Truth, and Love.

Mary Baker Eddy speaks eloquently of how we should treasure the desire to reflect God—to be who we really are as His children. She says: "Stand by the limpid lake, sleeping amid willowy banks dyed with emerald. See therein the mirrored sky and the moon ablaze with her mild glory. This will stir your heart. Then, in speechless prayer, ask God to enable you to reflect God, to become His own image and likeness, even the calm, clear,radiant reflection of Christ's glory, healing the sick, bringing the sinner to repentance, and raising the spiritually dead in trespasses and sins to life in God" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 150).

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