While chatting with a neighbor this week who was lamenting the boredom she experiences with a husband working long hours and her children off to college, I couldn't help thinking about this idea of usefulness and satisfaction in life.
There is no doubt many today long to feel needed, to have a satifying purpose, to express their own particular abilities, hopes and ideas, independent of what their family is doing. In short, to feel that they matter.
In assuring mankind of God's tender care for each of His children, and man's spiritual value, Jesus said: "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than manuy sparrows." (Matthew 10:29, 31)
Each of us is important, useful, unique. Why? Because man is God's beloved child, made in His image and likeness, as we read in the first chapter of the Bible. In full accord with this revelation, Christian Science shows that man is the spiritual reflection of God, divine Love, and as such is perfect and immortal.
As we grow in the understanding of man's unity with his Maker, each of us is assured our secure place and purposeful activity. We cannot be forgotten, lost in the crowd, swallowed up in our rapidly-changing world. Our life is governed by God, directed and sustained by His unchanging divine law. Any individual can begin to glimpse his or her importance to God.
The woman who discovered and founded my religion, Mary Baker Eddy, writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (p.306): "If God, who is Life, were parted for a moment from His reflection, man, during that moment there would be no divinity reflected. The Ego would be unexpressed, and the Father would be childless, -- no Father."
Beyond living a worthwhile life ourselves, yours and my contribution toward world problems is vitally needed. It's challenging at times not to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the difficulties confronting mankind. Don't we all know this. And we may think, "But what can just one person do?" When we feel this way, we can find encouragement and inspiration in the life of the Master.
Christ Jesus' earthly mission proved what can be accomplished by just one God-directed individual. It was Jesus' understanding of man's true selfhood and oneness with God that empowered his far-reaching acts. This same understanding of man's real being and spiritual vaue will enable anyone to have a more meaningful, satisfying life.
The impressions that one person cannot achieve very much, that he is limited, ineffective, and unimportant, is the result of false education, the material belief that one is a solitary mortal, helpless and separated from God, good. But this is not the true concept of man. One finds freedom from such a misconception as he appplies his understanding of this spiritual fact.
As the perfect child of our loving, heavenly Father, you and I are needed--whatever our human circumstances happen to be. This is divine, provable fact and it pertains to my neighbor down the street, and to any one who comes across this blog.
