Gender equality

“Let the ‘male and female’ of God’s creating appear.” ­(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Eddy, p. 249)

What does this mean to you?

To me, it points to spiritual manhood and womanhood, which is included in who we each are.

Although, we might see each other as limited, mortal genders, we are spiritually created in the image and likeness of God and are already whole and complete including both the masculine and feminine within our being.

For instance, the balance of my spiritual masculine and feminine qualities makes me strong, intelligent, independent, nurturing, supportive and caring. They are in perfect balance and equality, not competing with one another.

Sometimes we see one gender as dominating over another. But right there we can recognize that each individual includes spiritual womanhood and manhood. Because the “male and female” of God’s creating are spiritual, they have to be seen in everyone.

When watching a burly guy walk down the street, I love to acknowledge, despite the rough exterior, that he includes gentleness, peace and spiritual intuition.

When we recognize our completeness, it frees us from sensuality, lust and a false desire to dominate one another.

It can require humility to see that one gender is not superior over another and that we are all in fact equal. But I know that as we do this our relationships will become more kind, trustful and spiritual.

For instance, how can a woman walking down the street fear a man when she sees his spiritual womanhood as well as manhood? How can he be attracted to her in a malicious way when he sees her as complete – capable, strong and beautiful – acknowledging both her spiritual masculinity and femininity?

“Let” means to allow or permit. So allow the spiritual manhood and womanhood that God created in to your consciousness. It will completely expand your view, enrich our divine family, and foster safer communities with more opportunities. Misconceptions about who we are get cleared up. And we will no longer be limited by harmful stereotypes.

“Let us … give up imperfect models and illusive ideals; and so let us have one God, one Mind, and that one perfect, producing His own models of excellence. Let the ‘male and female’ of God’s creating appear.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Eddy, p. 249)

 

Prayer

As I was reading and studying the Bible along with Science and Health this morning, I realized that prayer is an absolute benefit to us.  What I mean by this is that prayer doesn’t change God; it doesn’t change God’s action or God’s will, and it doesn’t bring God down to us.

Prayer lifts us up to God.  God already sees and knows perfection.  He/She sees and knows its perfect creation as flawless, spiritual and immortal.

In the chapter entitled Prayer in the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (by Mary Baker Eddy), it states:

Prayer cannot change the Science of being, but it tends to bring us into harmony with it. (pg. 2:15)

I find such comfort in this statement.  And it helps me ask myself more clearly, why would I let anything stop me from praying?  Why would I not find the time or not feel like it when I know it is only blessing me and lifting me up?  In this world we find time to do the things that are good for us and that make us feel good – going to the gym, eating healthy, researching and doing new things.

But prayer absolutely lifts us up higher than any of these things can.  It makes us feel at peace, and have less stress and worry.  This of course impacts our health as well as our interactions with our family and relationships. Prayer opens up our thought to new ideas and opportunities which affects our business endeavors and life purpose.  This makes us feel more fulfilled, a greater sense of self-worth and value, and results in more consistent supply.

So why wouldn’t we pray?  Prayer is going to open us up to more of God’s perfection; seeing and knowing Him/Her more clearly and with more understanding.  Prayer will absolutely not change God; it won’t make Him act differently, or think differently, and it won’t make him “do” anything He wasn’t already doing.

So let’s not cheat ourselves out of what is going to benefit us most greatly, along with blessing the rest of the world.  Let’s find that time to sit, be still, listen, read the Bible, Science and Health or other spiritual writings.  And this will greatly benefit us, bless us, and lift us up (our thought, our consciousness) to behold and see God.