Article October 14, 1996 Issue

Seeing past the labels to the child of God

Joan Sieber Ware

How quick we are to label people we meet. In one glimpse we often form opinions that leave us with feelings of prejudice, fear, envy. This labeling prevents us from discovering another's real individuality. To understand others means to recognize in them the likeness of God, good. In this way we begin to grasp the immediate presence of God's perfect creation.

One of Christ Jesus' Beatitudes teaches "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8). Purity of thought and affection enables us to discern that God and what He creates are all that is real. As Science and Health says, "Divine Love is infinite. Therefore all that really exists is in and of God, and manifests His love" (p. 340). How powerful and healing it is to begin seeing others as God knows them. The spiritual fact is that each one of us is the very expression of divine Love, kind, beautiful, pure, and tender.

Is it impossible or naive to have such a view of man? Not if we take Jesus' teachings and example seriously. Jesus taught his followers that the kingdom of God is at hand and is within. It is not a far-off paradise but a present fact to be seen and understood, felt and lived. To help people look beyond that which would hide God's perfect kingdom, right at hand, he demanded that they repent, or change their way of thinking, viewing, and living. Jesus knew the material, worldly view tells nothing of the real, spiritual fact but would mask the presence of God and His expression.

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