What part are you playing?

By Hilma Orr

Recently our grandson was in a play. The high-school students did a good job portraying characters quite different from themselves. A quotation from Shakespeare's As You Like It came to mind: "All the world's a stage,/And all the men and women merely players."

We all have a choice in the role we play in life—a vital choice. The book Science and Health talks about this choice: "What is the model before mortal mind? Is it imperfection, joy, sorrow, sin, suffering? Have you accepted the mortal model? Are you reproducing it?"

The author, Mary Baker Eddy, goes on to say: "To remedy this, we must first turn our gaze in the right direction, and then walk that way. We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives" (p. 248).

For a play to succeed, it must so involve the spectators that they suspend disbelief and mentally become active participants. If the audience refuses to get involved, the play cannot be effective entertainment. Just so, if we refuse to accept any false role, and consistently recognize our true identity as God's image and likeness, whatever roles are being imposed on us will also be unsuccessful.

My grandson proved this once when he and his brother came for a short visit. Since they live quite a distance from us, we wanted to fill every moment of their visit with fun activities. But the morning after the boys arrived, this grandson woke up feeling ill and feverish. Instead of giving in to the illness, he said: "I know this isn't true. God never made or sent evil, and God is All." Then he asked, "Could we talk about David and Goliath?" We reviewed the account from the Bible together.

David was preparing to do hand-to-hand battle with Goliath, the largest soldier in the enemy army. (See I Sam., chap. 17.) Although David's friends were very afraid for him, David was not fooled. He knew that God, Truth, is all-power. David's job was to understand and trust God's all-power and goodness, listen for God's direction, and be obedient. Armed with a sling and a few stones, he ran to meet Goliath. His purpose was to glorify God and not himself. "I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel," he called out, and this truth paved the way for Goliath to be vanquished and the battle won.

By the time we finished talking about this, my grandson's fever was gone.

By the time we finished talking about this, my grandson's fever was gone. He had the victory over illness by refusing to take on a false role. We had a great time for the rest of their visit.

Learning to play the right part—to be who we really are as God's spiritual image and likeness—may be a step-by-step process, each step strengthening us and inspiring us to further progress. The steps lead us higher in our understanding of our role as God's beloved child. At some point, we will all hear the praise of the Father, who said of Jesus, "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22).

Who wouldn't want to be cast in that role?

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit