Faces on Faith: Reflection
Recently my husband and I were enjoying a delicious supper outdoors at one of our favorite island restaurants. As I was admiring the gorgeous tropical landscaping, I realized that even though it was not in my line of vision, I could see a beautiful fountain reflected in the windows of the shops across the way. Along with hearing the gurgling water falling over the rock fountain, I could actually see it all too!
That got me recalling one of my favorite paintings by contemporary 20th century artist Don Eddy (no relation to the 19th century discoverer and founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy) called “Jewelry” that I taught with when I was a docent at The Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio. Looking at the canvas itself, initially you saw a very realistic picture full of necklaces, rings, pendants, and beads of all kinds. But when you really looked closely, you suddenly noticed reflected images of people who were outside on the sidewalk admiring the jewelry in the shop window. Suddenly you noticed both the beautiful jewelry and the folks admiring it. What we see reflected when we really look closely is truly amazing!
So then when we think about reflection, just how do we see ourselves? We may not always be admiring the jewelry in shop windows, but we often find ourselves glancing in a mirror or admiring the latest selfie we’ve taken. So what kind of image do really see then?
Let’s remember that we were actually created by God, in his image and likeness as the Bible affirms. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:26, 27) Do we see ourselves reflected in this perfect image, just the way we were created?
Mary Baker Eddy, answers that question this way: “Your mirrored reflection is your own image or likeness. If you lift a weight, your reflection does this also. If you speak, the lips of this likeness move in accord with yours. Now compare man before the mirror to his divine Principle, God. Call the mirror divine Science, and call man the reflection. Then note how true, according to Christian Science, is the reflection to its original. As the reflection of yourself appears in the mirror, so you, being spiritual, are the reflection of God. The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by His creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 515:25)
So in that next selfie, let’s be sure that we see ourselves the same way God sees us, as his perfect reflection!
Mary L. Miller is affiliated with the Sanibel Christian Science Church.