The subject of reflection sometimes presents a difficulty to the young student of Christian Science in that the often-used illustration of a mirror may suggest separation between that which is reflected and the reflection.

One definition, however, which Webster gives of the verb "reflect" is "to consider mentally, specifically, to attend earnestly to what passes within the mind; to attend to the facts or phenomena of consciousness." And "reflection" is defined in part as "any state in which the mind considers its own content."

On page 515 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy writes, "The eternal Elohim includes the forever universe." The eternal Elohim, or infinite Mind, is self-contained, self-existent, self-expressed. God, being Mind, includes "the forever universe" as idea. There is but one Mind and but one universe. Nothing exists outside the realm of all-inclusive infinity.

Thus reflection is the action of Mind unfolding itself within itself. This unfoldment or revelation is spiritual creation. Reflection is never outside of Mind. It goes on always within Mind. It partakes of the nature of Mind, and expresses and utilizes the infinite capacity of Mind. It is wholly mental; and because Mind is Spirit, it is wholly spiritual.

Now how may we relate this concept of reflection to the illustration of the mirror? Every attempt to picture the divine or the spiritual in terms of the human, holds a discrepancy. No human illustration can perfectly portray the divine, but we may from certain figures and similes derive valuable lessons and food for thought. Thus Jesus taught the profound truths of the kingdom of heaven in parables of the leaven and the hidden treasure; and Mrs. Eddy uses the mirror to illustrate in some measure the function of reflection. She says in Science and Health (p. 515), "Call the mirror divine Science, and call man the reflection;" and in "No and Yes" (p. 9) she defines Science as "the atmosphere of God."

When we read about the mirror, let us think of the all-inclusive, all-comprehending Mind, or God, and man the reflection, appearing in full glory within that Mind, in the radiant atmosphere of Soul, himself the very evidence of the eternal oneness of divine being. Then we may "note how true, according to Christian Science, is the reflection to its original," even as Mrs. Eddy says in continuation of the above-referred-to quotation from the textbook.

Infinity is presence, coexistence, at-one-ment, incapable of separation. Thus reflection exists forever without time in eternity. It is instantaneous, unfluctuating, permanent, complete. It cannot be intercepted, interrupted, or mutilated. Reflection is action, not stagnation; unfoldment, not arrestment. The reflection which results from Mind's activity manifests both intelligence and substance. Delusion and depletion are unknown to Mind.

Reflection does nothing of itself; possesses nothing of itself; originates nothing of itself; is nothing of itself. Mind creates, animates, controls, governs, and constitutes its own reflection. God is cause; man is effect. Through spiritual sense, Mind cognizes itself in the infinitude of divine reflection. The reflection of infinite Mind is infinite.

Spiritual law sustains reflection. Reflection cannot be inverted. Therefore, there is no law, that is, no necessity, reality, or presence back of age, illness, death, or limitation, inasmuch as these do not exist within the infinitude of perfect Mind. Man is not a mortal, separated from God, vainly trying to reflect Him. Man is reflection. He is wholly spiritual. We should awake to this great spiritual fact of being, and demonstrate the possibilities it implies.

The true concept of reflection is the solution of the problem of lack. Humanity's continual effort is to multiply good materially. Human endeavor along the lines of research and accomplishment generally is directed toward this goal. Mankind labors for it, fights for it, sacrifices for it, even dies for it, but is never satisfied. From its very inception mortal existence is limitation; birth implies death, and everything in the mortal's experience between those two points is limited. Which of us has not at some time in his experience thought, If only I had more money, more health, more opportunity, or more companionship, my problem would be solved! But would it be? That which calls itself human, holds no solution within itself. Christian Science alone reveals the scientific, spiritual solution of the problem of being. The multiplication or increase of good is found in spiritual reflection alone. Man existing at the standpoint of infinite reflection knows no limit. The limits of mortal existence disappear in the demonstration of spiritual being.

Infinite reflection is abundance, not accumulation. It is expression, not hoarding. There are no vacuums, no waste places, no burdensome responsibilities, no dwarfing relationships in reflection. Each idea is distinct and free, governed by unerring divine Principle, moving, unfolding, progressing in accord with Principle. Reflection does not age, mature, or deteriorate. It never makes a mistake. It never dies. Reflection is changeless; it exists forever at the standpoint of perfection. It is unlabored, effortless, spontaneous, continuous.

The action of reflection never leaves a vacuum. Fear and limited material thinking produce the appearance of a vacuum—as, for example, of something made less by use. In the infinitude of spiritual reflection there is no vacuum. If it were not for fear and limited thinking, any appearance of a vacuum would be filled naturally and inevitably. Reflection cannot be diminished, obstructed, obliterated, or erased. It never stagnates. If Mind should cease to operate, reflection would cease to be. Spiritual consciousness is the demonstration of spiritual integrity. It fulfills its obligations. It is founded on divine Principle, and admits of no wantonness, wastefulness, or extravagance.

Likewise, when a loved one seems to pass from our sight, the all-knowing, all-loving, eternal Mind holds within itself the continuity, action, identity, and individuality of spiritual reflection without change, or lapse, or vacuum.

Infinite Mind supports its own spiritual creation. Supply is often thought of as personal support. We frequently hear it said, I have to support my home, myself, my family, and so on. And with that belief come fear, false responsibility, burden, limitation. Divine Mind, not human effort, is that which supports! Support, therefore, is wholly spiritual; hence limitless, actual, permanent, complete. It is as easy and effortless for the ocean to support the fifty-thousand-ton steamer as the tiny sailing craft. The sustaining power of divine Love, Spirit, is unlabored and unlimited.

The law of God is the law of abundance. Man in the likeness of God expresses abundance—the abundance of Spirit, of Love, of Life; therefore, abundance is natural to man. Christ Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." The barrel of meal and the cruse of oil may be the human concept of Love's provision in time of seeming famine, but Science demands that we progress beyond the belief of famine. The children of Israel were sustained in the wilderness, but their demonstration led them beyond the wilderness into the promised land. Within the allness of infinity, there exists neither famine, fowler, pestilence, nor wilderness. Infinite Mind, cognizing itself in spiritual reflection, is conscious of nought but its own infinitude.

Paul struck the keynote of scientific demonstration when he said, "Ye are complete in him"—Christ, Truth. Man in God's likeness is whole, secure, complete, and safe. He exists in God and reflects infinity.