Article April 27, 1998 Issue

Lonely no more

Prayer makes it possible to live without loneliness.

By Michelle Boccanfuso

Improving Our Relationships with others does not require figuring out how to relate better to one another as mortal to mortal. It involves abandoning limited views of ourselves, our neighbors, our situations, and discovering more of our true, immortal being as the image and likeness of God.

I've found it helpful to look to the first chapter of the book of Genesis in the Bible for clarification on man's indestructible relation to God. A key verse states, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" (verse 26). For many years I lumped the terms image and likeness together as one concept. But each term has a distinct meaning. To be the image of something is vividly to represent the original. Image of God implies that which perfectly reflects God. The term shows man—each of us in our true, spiritual identity—to be in full possession of spiritual qualities and attributes of God. For instance, as the image of God each one of us includes the strength, vitality, intelligence, harmony, and beauty of divine Life and Love.

The term likeness of God points to what man expresses. Likeness implies that which corresponds in nature to the original. As the spiritual likeness of God, man is the active expression of God. As Love's perfect reflection, Love's beloved child, we are loved, lovable, and loving.

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