RELATIONSHIPS January 8, 2007 Issue

WALKING THE TALK

MEG DENDLER

"YES!" HE SHOUTED as he slammed both fists on the table to emphasize his enthusiasm. I was stunned because this fellow student of mine had barely uttered a word all semester. We were taking a course on Orthodox Christianity. And he was clearly relieved to hear me state a truth about the nature of God that had been missing from class discussions—that God is only good.

The book of Genesis in the Bible relates that God created all, and called it very good. Nothing exists outside this omnipotent, divine goodness. In a chapter titled "Genesis" in Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy explained, "God creates neither erring thought, mortal life, mutable truth, nor variable love" (p. 503). And further on she wrote, "God, Spirit, dwelling in infinite light and harmony from which emanates the true idea, is never reflected by aught but the good" (pp. 503–504).

For me, this truth is what drives not only my communion with God in prayer, but my interactions with other people as well. The knowledge that God's creation is only good makes demands on all of us to act accordingly by striving to see good in everyone around us.