Cutting-edge discovery

A recent New York Times headline referred to an advanced heat map recorded by the Planck satellite: “Universe as an Infant: Fatter than Expected and Kind of Lumpy” (March 21, 2013). Astronomers also reported that the universe was “older” than previously reported and “slightly lopsided.” Referring to the making of the map, an awesome technological feat, a Princeton cosmologist described the news it delivered as “beautiful.”

What an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the expanded “telescope” from which Mary Baker Eddy encourages us to look through—the lens of Spirit. Because here she leads us to the real breaking news: the universe is spiritual.

When we contemplate the universe from this viewpoint, our vision widens, sharpens, and ultimately transforms. We no longer evaluate everything from a point of limitation, comparison, definition, and constant redefinition—but rather acknowledge the glory of divine Mind, where we look “away from matter to Mind as the cause of every effect” (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 268 ).

It is in divine possibilities revealed where we find the most fertile ground for individual discovery—the true "Science" of our lives.

But is this radical viewpoint practical? A resounding yes. The human point of view makes us measure everything from a “yardstick” perspective—at the mercy of our specific life histories, opinions, and the matter-based “facts” before us. When we start from a spiritual perspective, Mind’s infinite viewpoint, we aren’t dependent on outside evaluation—ours or anybody else’s. With Spirit at the helm, we are guided rightly in every aspect of our lives. Set free from limitation, we no longer regard what we experience—as the scientists now describe the universe itself—as “slightly lopsided” and “kind of lumpy.”

Science and Health says: “When first spoken in any age, Truth, like the light, ‘shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.’ A false sense of life, substance, and mind hides the divine possibilities, and conceals scientific demonstration” (pp. 325–326 ). It is in divine possibilities revealed where we find the most fertile ground for individual discovery—the true “Science” of our lives. This is where, like an artist, we can relish what might look at first like a so-called “blank canvas”—but it’s not blank at all! Instead, it’s already filled with divine Mind’s infinite, creative calculations, finding relevance and harmony in the world and in our lives in an abundance of ways. The cranky voice of bodily complaint fades out. Troubled relationships find their God-given equilibrium. World headlines, instead of jarring us, become a call to prayer that blesses.

Mary Baker Eddy wrote: “Nature reflects man and art pencils him, but it remains for Science to reveal man to man; and between these lines of thought is written in luminous letters, O man, what art thou? Where art thou? Whence and whither? And what shall the answer be?” As we continue to contemplate those questions posed in The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany (p. 124 ), we can see them for everything they are: bold and cutting-edge pointers to the greatest gift before us—the universe of thought.