When one begins to consider such a subject as true greatness, it's interesting to see all the qualities that can be associated with it. Integrity, moral courage, perseverance, goodness, selflessness, are some of the concepts that we often relate to those distinguished human beings whom we think of as great.

There are hundreds of famous people in the world, people whose names are household words, but true greatness has a spiritual quality behind it, an essence of divine goodness that comes from God Himself. In fact, when God prompts our thoughts and actions, the inherent dignity and worth we derive from Him illumine the environment in which we live with an inspiring nobility.

Many individuals have an innate longing to express this nobility in their own lives. Perhaps the desire to be of true worth hints of the Christ-idea in human consciousness, revealing the truth that tells us we are so much more than the limited and frail mortals we seem to be. Our true identity is spiritual man, the man of God's creating. God's man is sublime, grand beyond any human description, because God reflects in man the very majesty and glory of divine Being. This spiritual reality of man is the grandeur that will satisfy us and enable us to be of worth to mankind. Christ Jesus fully exemplified this true greatness.

But how do we demonstrate or prove that our individual lives can be truly meaningful to humanity? Spiritual greatness—that living Godlikeness—doesn't come from the glorifying of the mortal self, but from the selflessness and humility that demonstrate God's control of man. Mrs. Eddy writes in The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, "Only those men and women gain greatness who gain themselves in a complete subordination of self." ^{Miscellany, p. 194.}

Subordination of self sounds like a rather tall order for ordinary human beings. And it would be if it weren't for the spiritual fact that man is already the reflection of the divine Ego, God. Man has no finite personal ego, no selfhood constantly at war with God. Man is the witness of the divine Ego. And it is from this holy standpoint that we can demonstrate those Christly qualities of humility, goodness, and selflessness that mean true nobility. Speaking to the early Christians about their need to discern the false doctrine of those who refused to preach the true gospel of Christ, one of Jesus' followers wrote, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." ^{I John 4:4.} It is our grateful acknowledgment that our own true identity is indeed "of God" that enables us to overcome the fleshly elements of pride, human outlining, impatience, worldliness—all of which would interfere with our own happiness and service to mankind.

Two of Christ Jesus' disciples, James and John, had to learn that greatness comes from God, rather than from human desire. They made a request of Jesus that the other disciples considered rather impertinent. The Bible records, "They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory." Were they seeking the glory that Jesus was so fully demonstrating in his own pure life? We don't really know. But the Biblical account reports that Jesus replied, "... To sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared." ^{Mark 10:37, 40.}

The greatness that comes from God is not something that we can seek in human willfulness. Rather it is already prepared for us. And it is found in what we become—as we are seeking God. Mrs. Eddy writes: "The lives of great men and women are miracles of patience and perseverance. Every luminary in the constellation of human greatness, like the stars, comes out in the darkness to shine with the reflected light of God." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 340.}

God-seekers shine in the darkness of mortal commonality and confusion. Their lives speak of moral courage, true brotherhood, love, patient endurance of scorn and ridicule, moments of selflessness that have prepared them for great deeds. These are Christlike attitudes of thought that attract those who are tired of the pettiness of mortal mind. And these qualities of "patience and perseverance" belong to us all because each of us in truth is the man that God has made.

As we cherish these qualities in our hearts, consciously look for ways to express them, allow them to overcome the carnal-mindedness that would claim to be our thinking, we are responding to the Christ within our own consciousness. Then our lives also invariably begin to glow with the reflected glory of divinity.

But then the question might come, "How do we stay humble when we're recognized as a witness for Christ, Truth?" Mrs. Eddy has a deeply significant answer. She writes, "I suggest as a motto for every Christian Scientist,—a living and life-giving spiritual shield against the powers of darkness,—

And she continues, "The only genuine success possible for any Christian—and the only success I have ever achieved—has been accomplished on this solid basis." ^{Message to The Mother Church for 1902, p. 14.}

It is goodness—spiritual goodness—that makes an individual great, and it is this love of goodness that protects him or her from pride, envy, and disgrace. Christ Jesus' goodness—his humility, his healing and saving works, his depth of love for God and man—made him the most distinguished individual who has ever lived. But it did more than that. It revealed his true nature to be the Christ, the Saviour of mankind.

True greatness is a quality of the Christ. And to the degree that we follow Jesus' example, in that proportion we'll be satisfied with what we are able to do for mankind.

BARBARA-JEAN STINSON