Article January 14, 2019 Issue

A Soul-filled life

Allison J. Rose-Sonnesyn

Originally published in The Christian Science Monitor’s Christian Science Perspective column, October 23, 2018.

As a lifelong fan of Aretha Franklin, I’ve spent some time the past couple of months reflecting on her large body of work. One of my favorite moments was when she graciously served as a last-minute substitute for her friend Luciano Pavarotti in a performance at the 1998 Grammy Awards. She sang one of his signature performance pieces: “Nessun Dorma,” from Puccini’s opera Turandot. Part of what touched me about that performance was that Ms. Franklin unapologetically sang it her way—she made it her own.

Each day we are presented with opportunities to approach challenges and even the mundane in a way that expresses our individuality. As I strive to learn more about how to express myself, I’ve appreciated something I’ve learned in Christian Science: that we all have something specific and valuable to contribute, and that the basis for this is our relation to God.

Christian Science uses Soul as a synonym for God, the source of everyone’s identity. This identity is not based on a physical body or limited by genetic predisposition, but rather is spiritual: We are the expression of Soul itself, made to express qualities such as beauty, harmony, and joy.

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