GOLDEN TEXT: PSALM 17 : 15
“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.”
I am very grateful for this verse this week.
While growing up, we moved a lot, and in every new town people would come up to me and let me know how ugly I was. It wasn’t just kids, quite a few adults went out of their way to say it too. At first it really was hurtful, but by the time I was twelve or so I decided on a few things: First, it must be true because so many people in so many states agreed; second, because I was ugly I could just let go of worrying about my appearance completely; and third, I better acquire some skills and work on my sense of humor if I am to expect people to want me around.
Learning Christian Science and working with a practitioner has been healing me of a great many false beliefs, for which I am very thankful. But working on this one felt like I was trying to remove an inherent quality, like trying to make room temperature water not a liquid, so I was just leaving it for a time until I understood more about Science.
But then this verse came along and made it so simple: The real me is His likeness, and that likeness could never be unlike the qualities of each synonym of God. To be here learning to live this Science, waking up knowing God is my Mind, and striving to reflect Him as closely as I understand how to each day, means I am learning to be His likeness with ever greater fidelity. Basically, by learning to see God rightly (“behold thy face in righteousness”), I am learning to see myself rightly (“awake, with thy likeness”). What could be more beautiful and satisfying than that?
And, for any that may hold the mistaken view of me (or, for me holding a mistaken view of myself or others) I am reminded of the line, “do not be offended by anyone, for they do not know you as you really are; if they did they would love you” from the article There Is No Death on our website.
I am so grateful for this Science, this Church, practitioner support, and these lessons which bring true healing and comfort daily! Thank you!