A woman lamented to me that she was having a hard time seeing herself as spiritual. She could list qualities of Spirit she expressed, but seeing herself as wholly spiritual felt elusive and abstract.
In thinking about what I’ve learned about individuality in Christian Science, that our individuality is purely spiritual, very tangible and concrete to spiritual sense, and eternally ours, I replied to her, “I am content to know that if my physical body vanished this instant, I would be perfectly fine. I would still have shape, form, outline, color, texture, and substance. I would still be moving around, seeing, hearing, living, loving and enjoying the wonderful Life God has given me to live. But it would all be happening in Spirit, not in matter. That the disappearance of matter is not the disappearance of me, because I am not material. I am spiritual! I can never lose me, a spiritual child of God.”
People who cling to physicality have a hard time identifying with spiritual individuality because they believe matter is the sum and substance of their being. But it is not. Matter is temporal. Physicality is temporal, here today, gone tomorrow. We are not temporal bodies. We are eternal spiritual beings. Everyone will get this figured out sooner or later. Sooner is better! When you identify with Spirit, rather than matter, you’ll find it easier to see yourself as a spiritual being, here and now.
As Mary Baker Eddy writes, “The individuality of man is no less tangible because it is spiritual and because his life is not at the mercy of matter. The understanding of his spiritual individuality makes man more real, more formidable in truth, and enables him to conquer sin, disease, and death” (Science and Health, p. 317).
Start with Spirit, think out from Spirit, identify with Spirit, and you’ll be on your way to understanding what it means to be spiritual.
Thank you Evan… wonderfully clear, explicit and so beautifully understandable.
Spirit View is my daily spiritual HUG❣️
If my physical body was to vanish etc I would still have form & colour etc . What I don’t understand is we are spiritual or spirit yet it is mentioned often about a physical body implying we have one? as above?
I am not clear about being fully spiritual,but dismiss that I am physical and pray about spiritual qualities.
It is a battle…..
Thank you Evan, I was just considering the point this morning. Lynn, Mrs Eddy acknowledges in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, that we do indeed find ourselves in battle. You are not alone 😉
S&H p254
“God requires perfection, but not until the battle between Spirit and flesh is fought and the victory won. To stop eating, drinking, or being clothed materially before the spiritual facts of existence are gained step by step, is not legitimate. When we wait patiently on God and seek Truth righteously, He directs our path.”
Thank you
Perfectly explained Evan. Makes total sense. I hope that lady was satisfied with your words.
Thank you for this clear explanation, Evan! I love pondering this Truth and acknowledge it often. It reminds me of another explanation from Mrs. Eddy: “Matter is made up of supposititious mortal mind-force; but all might is divine Mind. Thought will finally be understood and seen in all form, substance, and color, but without material accompaniments.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 310:5–8 (to The)
In reality, we live in divine Mind, divine consciousness where all is thought, idea. There no material accompaniments with any limitation. It’s really fun, and very comforting, to grow in understanding this truth.
Grateful for you and your blog, Evan!!