By Susie Rynerson
During my time at the TMCYouth Spiritual Activism Summit in September, I got a new perspective on the concept of reflection. Not only as a result of metaphysical work, but also from experiences there.
Reflection was a persistent theme in the Bible Lesson leading up to the Summit weekend, so I thought and prayed about it deeply. Of course it was not an unfamiliar concept. But often when I see the “same old thing” in my study, I ask God, what new can I learn about this today?
This time around (God’s always got more up His sleeve), I realized that in order for me to see anything, such as a beautiful red rose in my yard, it has to be continuously reflecting light in all directions. The rose doesn’t possess or radiate its own redness or send it only to rose-lovers if perchance it’s having a good-petal-day. It simply reflects the red range of sunlight-waves which are constantly coming to it, because that’s the way it’s made.
In short, physics says that a rose is simply a material object reflecting light. But what does metaphysics say? That a rose is a perfect spiritual idea in Mind, which, basking in God’s loving attention, reflects back to Him and all creation, His light of beauty, order, tenderness, generosity (I’ve never seen a rose refuse a bee or a nose before)…
How does that apply to us? Well, as the ultimately inspired ideas of the divine Mind, we constantly reflect absolutely every quality of God He has to dish out. We don’t just reflect carrot-red with a mop-top hairdo, or hot red with a Ferrari hat. We don’t just reflect practiced or favorite qualities such as coordination or communication. We have no choice – in truth, we reflect the whole range of God’s being.
We reflect strength, tenderness, intelligence, patience, order, peace, love… in every direction. We do this not just on the sports field, in the band or class room or at home. We’re at it all the time, everywhere, for all of creation, because God made us that way and is always “shining upon us” as a Psalm says.
Whooah! That was a pretty dazzling idea to me!! And it better explained Mrs. Eddy’s description of how Christ Jesus could “…throw upon mortals the truer reflection of God…”
But what was more exciting was to see this concept actively and pervasively expressed during the Summit. For example, love didn’t just go from one person to the next and stop. It was reflected again and again, bouncing from the back office to the kitchen, to the sessions, back to the cabins, then splashing down into the pool at the end of the water slide, and so on. Wheeee!!! It had to be felt by everyone – even the cat cruising the stage was basking in it and reflecting it!!
Okay, actually it gets even better. I then thought about how this reflection had to continue as we all went our own ways at the end of the Summit, still in Mind, still equally showered with His delight, still reflecting, still radiant. We are built by Mind to reflect Him for eternity – we can’t help it. And, in turn, all of humanity will be blessed – nobody can escape all the rays of love zinging around the globe. What a fantastic thing.
All I can say as a result is, I offer hearty thanks to everyone who prayed about, planned, supported or participated in the Summit - it enhanced a vision I will never forget.
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Will be great to hear about London. This Cedars Summit reflection recap hints at the immense Soul-energy always singing “notice me, notice me” and “see how wonder-filled you are!” All about honoring and witnessing God.