"The chapter...clearly shows us how to find the full blessings of life in God, divine Mind."

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The chapter on “Creation” in Science and Health, by Mary Baker Eddy, I often refer to as a starting point in my study of Science. It reminds us that “primeval existence” was and is the true status of our being as spiritual ideas of eternal Mind.  It gives us a basis from which to refute the arguments of physical sense.

1. To me the word creation implies that there is a self-existent creative power, the Creator (S&H 583:20), resulting in the formation and realness of all that this power creates – that is, spiritual creation. In response to your question, what came to me readily as creation was the following:

  • new beginning
  • ongoing unfoldment
  • moment-by-moment Life
  • light
  • infinitude
  • completeness – God’s work done, finished.

“Uninterrupted continuity of good,” a phrase from a pamphlet of years ago, captures this thought. The activity of God, divine Mind, unfolding its own fullness is creation, which constitutes continuously all real Being.

The Bible’s first chapter of Genesis not only implies but reveals and states the magnitude and order of the Creator’s work. The spirit of God “moved upon the face of the waters.” The heavens, firmament, rivers, earth, all its creatures after their kind, and man in God’s image and likeness are creation as I understand it. Though we seem to see these things humanly, they are really spiritual ideas of Mind. Each is given a spiritual definition in our textbook.

2. My impression of the chapter “Creation” in Science and Health is that it contains an expanded exposition of the “scientific statement of being” (468:8-15). It boldly tears away the common belief of life in matter and replaces it with the facts of life in God, insisting that creation, including man, is unconditionally and wholly spiritual.

It is difficult to state this impression in my “own words” without pulling quotations from the text. Mrs. Eddy firmly denounces outdated doctrines, refutes the concept of a personal Trinity, declares that man is spiritual, and that matter is a false belief. Repeatedly we are told to “rise higher” and “rise above” materiality – to leave material consciousness for spiritual Truth and its healing power.

The chapter, while clearly exposing the pantheistic basis of mortal mind and its claims, also clearly shows us how to find the full blessings of life in God, divine Mind (p. 259). God demands our obedience, but divine Love assures us of Her constant love and care. The chapter’s paragraph headings state succinctly its principal message: there is “no material creation” and we are “Infinity’s reflection.” (p. 256 & 258)  

3. Increased understanding of true creation as spiritual can and does make a difference in my life. It is helping me to leave behind numerous unprofitable activities and attractions of human experience. Basically, this removes everything but church work, family gatherings, necessary shopping, and an occasional concert, although I do continue to sing weekly in a community Bach study group.

One of my biggest challenges is trying to be unselfed. Another is to keep thought focused on spiritual truth and law. Prayer is my constant recourse and hope! The chapter on Creation does provide a firm foundation for this work.

The truths found in the chapter help us to maintain faith in our “Individual permanency” (p. 258). They have enabled me to drive long-distance under physical duress and in difficult weather conditions by assuring me of being totally safe as Mind’s spiritual idea. Mind’s angels guided me to a safe place in an overseas country before I even knew I needed help.

Also overseas, a badly sprained ankle was healed immediately after acknowledging God’s scenic glory and majesty and becoming fully aware of my being purely an idea in divine Mind.

I do miss my nursing practice, but was able a short while ago to respond to a distant evening emergency claim of accident until the Journal-listed Visiting Nurse could arrive and take over. She and the patient used my home, which is fairly near church, as a refuge for care for several weeks. We listened to a lot of CD hymns during the process, and I was glad to be able to help.

The “sustaining infinite” (p. vii) continues to support my numerous activities in church work and family assistance. I keep my book of references and notes from Class open on my desk and refer to them often to keep me on the right track. Recently I’ve been working almost exclusively with the teachings from the Bible and Mrs. Eddy’s writings, including regular review of pp. 100-106 from Science and Health in support of the church and others.