"When evil feels powerful"

As published on Christian Science Monitor Website - http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0622/p18s01-hfcs.html

My morning newspaper recently had a front page photograph of a building in Pakistan that had been bombed by militants. The image seemed looming and final, written in stone.

This was in such contrast to other good, loving acts that I knew were going on in that region and around the world. Even the photograph showed rescue workers helping out in different ways. Some previous articles about that region had highlighted local people standing up in defense of their rights, safety, and well-being. This was evidence of good, even in the face of the violent images.

In my effort to find some inspiration, I thought about a verse from the Bible that provides instruction on how to pray about such a situation: “Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong” (Ps. 37:1, New International Version).

The psalm goes on to explain that each of us can trust in God to care for us. Fear never helps us accomplish anything. It’s not productive. Neither is responding or reacting fearfully to a troubling or dangerous situation.

The second part really got my attention – do not envy the wrongdoer. I saw in this case that could mean the destructive power depicted in the photo. Would I really envy such a power? Not outrightly. But if I were impressed or overwhelmed by it, I might. Worse yet, I might want God to use similar power to destroy the evildoers.

This thought was in stark contrast to what I’ve come to know about God’s loving protection of creation. How could I pray, affirming what I knew to be true about God’s complete goodness and love, while being shocked into a sense of helplessness?

The Bible is filled with descriptions of people who found protection and well-being, even when they were surrounded by those with destructive intent. At the Red Sea, Moses led the children of Israel to safety while they were being followed by Pharaoh’s army. Nehemiah supervised the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem under great pressure from enemies of the project. Had either man been overly impressed with the danger, he might not have been able to see God’s present help and protection as available.

In the short term, destructive tactics might seem to impede or stop the activity of good in the world. But if you look at what happens after the fact, you’ll frequently find people pulling together to restore what has been destroyed.

That’s a sign of the fact that each of us is spiritual, and expresses our Maker, who is divine Love. It is the very nature of Love to build and nurture, and those allied to good wish to do this also. Good actions have transforming power, even when there has been great trouble. This can be seen in the progress that Kenyans made in rebuilding and healing after the violence that followed their elections in 2007.

Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “All that worketh good is some manifestation of God asserting and developing good” (“Message to The Mother Church for 1900,” p. 10). This growth and progress of good, however slow it might seem, is evidence of humanity’s growing awareness of God’s complete goodness. Just as darkness is gone when light shines, the destructive intentions are dissolved when met fearlessly with love. This development is what people are striving for, and what is meaningful and lasting.

Further inspiration lies in these verses from that same psalm: “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (verses 3, 4). This can only be true when our desires move past selfish interests and allow God to “assert and develop good” freely through us.

Finger prints

A popular Christian song talks about seeing the finger prints of God in our life. I had one of those experiences recently. I was invited to give a 40 minute talk on an inspirational topic of my choice. While I was preparing I prayed to make sure that I focused to resist seeing the talk as an opportunity to show off what I knew or to impress people. I wanted to share about something where I had learned more about my relationship with God and how that new awareness had brought blessings in my life. I considered a few healings of physical problems that I had experienced and then started from there.

This was the first time I had given a public speech like this so I practiced and practiced and practiced. Each time I practiced I found a slightly better way to say something or a more uplifted outlook so the talk kept improving. I felt that I was gaining a better understanding of the significance of the ideas and benefiting from the activity.

Leading up to the day of the meeting there seemed to be a number of things that might disrupt my preparation. During the week leading up to the talk I started to lose my voice and at times to come down with symptoms of a cold. In the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, the author writes “The procuring cause and foundation of all sickness is fear, ignorance, or sin.” (p411) It was helpful to consider that my own fear and anxiety could be the basis of these health problems. I reasoned that God had provided this opportunity for sharing and it was for God’s glory, not mine. Since God was not afraid, there was no room for fear and there could be no room for sickness either.

The spiritual ideas and Bible stories I was thinking over were so comforting and reassuring. I was gaining a better awareness that God was present and was providing me with all I needed, to include wellbeing.

On the morning of the speech I felt at ease. During the activities of the day I found it very uplifting to spend time appreciating all the love that went into the preparation for the meeting. There was a great deal of selfless activity supporting everything going on. It was nice to be able to consider my role as part of a larger activity.

Throughout the day I reaffirmed what I have found helpful when challenged by doubt or nerves. Later in the morning when I had free time I sat down in the hotel lobby and prayed. I flipped open the Bible, looking for guidance. In this case it was perfect for my situation.

In 10th chapter of Daniel in the Bible it describes Daniel as seeing a vision of a man. He lost all his strength and fell into a sleep. The man from the vision awoke Daniel and he stood up. The man told Daniel to not be afraid and that since Daniel had sought knowledge of God and wanted to be humble before God his words were heard. This was perfect because it reminded me of why I wanted to do this in the first place; to love and learn more about God and be of service.

Later Daniel lost his ability to speak and the man in the vision touches his lips so he can speak. He tells the man in the vision that he has no strength or breath. The man touched Daniel again and strengthened him and told him “fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong.”

This was great. It was reassuring to consider that the ability to speak came alongside the ideas to be shared. That phrase about peace and being strong was very helpful in reminding me that I did not need to rely on my own ability, but the ability given to me by God. I prayed to quiet my own concerns and just see this unfold in God’s own way.

The most helpful line of all for me was what Daniel replies after regaining strength. He says “Let my Lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.” Wow was that powerful. I could completely turn over the activity to God. Neither the strength to share nor the ideas to be shared originated with me. By quieting my own concerns I could “let my Lord speak.”

Leading up to the speech I kept these ideas close and felt at ease. It was such a perfect story for what I needed. I am assured there was no coincidence involved.

Greenhouse Gases- Friend or Foe?

Thirty people are riding in a truck down a dusty road in Central Africa when the fanbelt breaks. The truck is overheating and can’t run without the belt. There is no phone, and the nearest auto part store is 30 miles back down the dusty road. It seems that there is a big problem. What did they do in the situation? Sulk? Did they yell and scream? Did they find someone to blame? Nope, they cut up the seat belt and used it as a replacement for the fan belt so they could limp into the next major town. That is what I call resourcefulness and appreciation of what is on hand. This solution to the problem came when they identified the seat belt by its qualities.

This situation a friend of mine experienced in Africa demonstrated that many of the problems we face can be solved by thinking about them with a fresh outlook. Each person associates this inspiration from different sources. I believe that the divine Intelligence of the universe –God- is constantly offering fresh outlooks; we just need to listen and be receptive.

This fresh outlook from God is important when approaching a particular problem that seems to loom large over the news today, climate change and the predicted effects that it will have on the earth in the future. There seems to be a problem that there are too many by-products from past energy creation that are considered harmful or poisonous. Furthermore there appears to be a limited supply of energy that can be used without creating more byproduct. This perceived limited supply does not seem to represent a cycle that is balanced; instead it suggests that it is one that is very finite. This perception is heavily grounded on the basis of a purely physical inspection and does not take into account inspiration and divine guidance. However, if we approach the situation from a perspective of the unlimited nature of divine Intelligence, we discover that the blessings are infinite and there is no limit on the inspiration we have from God.

It is very possible that when we open our thoughts to a spiritual view of the issues, solutions which we did not think existed will become foreseeable. With the infinite nature of God and his blessings, there must be a solution available that not only makes the allegedly harmful byproducts harmless but also useful. In this way we will be able to enjoy the truly sustainable nature of God’s gifts.

For inspiration I like to turn to the Bible. In the first chapter of Genesis, we are told that God completed his “very good” work and on the 7^th day rested. His/Her heaven and earth was finished and was not a “starter kit” that could be ruined, it was a harmonious, perfect creation. In the same chapter we find that God gave man dominion over all the earth, not a limited power for certain individuals with money or natural resources but a practical law, that when applied properly brings health and wholeness into any situation.

If we start with the idea that all of God’s creation is good and already finished then nothing exists that can be harmful or even useless. Mary Baker Eddy expressed this view in part of her definition of earth, “A sphere; a type of eternity and immortality, which are likewise without beginning or end.” (p585) This limitless basis described in her definition can be used to help expand thinking past the potentially harmful nature of something into a more freeing view of its usefulness.

The current popular method of thinking, based on a love of a finite earth or fear for future lack will not move towards the glory of seeing God’s creation as He/She saw it on day seven of creation. It is always helpful to be able to see examples of God’s restoring law in action so that we can turn from fear towards solutions that bless all. In the following examples I find that a troubling situation is replaced by harmony and harm is replaced by health when glimpsing more of God’s creation.

One weekend, while serving in Peace Corps in Africa, I went on a long hike into the hills. As I progressed further and further away from my village, there were fewer water sources. I was prepared for this and had brought some tablets to purify water. The only water source I could find was near a small shack way up in the hills. There were goats walking in and around it so it was not the cleanest but it seemed my only option. Once I filled up my container, I found that the water treatment tablets were useless because the bottle’s cap had broken previously, exposing the tablets to air and ruining them. A day after the hike I was having difficulty retaining food, it seemed the impurity of the water was causing me physical difficulty. In two days, I was scheduled to go to a regional capitol for a conference where I would help teach students about gender equality. At this point I had a choice to make, whether to accept the idea that I was ill from drinking harmful water and possibly miss the activity or to prayerfully turn to God to find inspiration. I chose the second and prayed to realize that nothing God made could be harmful or poisonous, therefore I could claim my wholeness and well being. Not only was I quickly healed, but I regained my appetite and strength. I made it to the conference without problem and the inspiration I gained from this situation proved quite helpful. To me this healing proved that the presence of this divine inspiration, or Christ, can help demonstrate our God-given dominion in the face of challenges.

In the book of Second Kings in the Bible, it is told that the Prophet Elisha arrived in Gilgal which was experiencing a famine. He sent his servant to gather herbs and fruits for a soup for “the sons of the prophets” that gathered. When they tried the soup they tasted bitterness and this led them to believe that there was “death in the pot.” At this point it would have been easy to believe that even a simple mistake such as gathering the wrong plant could cause others to suffer. This seems very much the mentality of today’s thought about the environment. It seems in the years past, people, knowingly or unknowingly, have damaged the once perfect planet by poor handling of resources. Even worse is the guilt they might feel if they buy into the idea that one country’s careless actions have doomed another poorer country.

The prophet did not take this line of thinking. Instead he turned to God for inspiration, and he was led to cast meal or flour into the pot. And he then told his servant to pour out the soup for them to eat as there was no harm in the pot. The Matthew Poole Bible Commentary points out that meal could not have taken away the “hurtful” quality of the soup in such a short time but instead it was God’s blessing. I take it to mean that inspiration was cast into the pot, displacing the fear of a mistake. I am sure that they were all happy that no one was harmed by the alleged poison, and even more so that they were able to eat in the time of famine. I believe that the biggest blessing was that they got to see God’s law in action. This story demonstrates that the appreciation of the limitless harmless nature of God’s creation overturns the limited view.

I recently read about a group of people that were working to better appreciate our present resources. The group at University of California, San Diego demonstrated the ability to exploit sunlight to transform a greenhouse gas into a useful product (Science Daily, April 18,2007). The process is not optimized but points towards a solution. In some ways it is helpful to remember that no matter how big the problem, God is bigger. In the Christian Science Hymnal, hymn number 40 has a verse that is very comforting in expectantly looking forward. “Earth has no sorrow that Love cannot cure.” This clearly expresses that divine Love’s nature is to care, tend, and improve all things.

Through my prayers I feel I have benefited from a sense of balance between knowing God’s dominion and the current focus on conservation. A story from the 6^th Chapter of John in the Bible helped keep this in perspective. When Jesus fed the multitude with loaves and fishes that seemed to miraculously appear, afterwards he told his disciples to gather up what is left so none is lost. Obviously after multiplying fishes and loaves by magnitudes he must not have been worried about limitations of food, but more so it seems he appreciated the spiritual quality of that food which is unlimited in God’s creation. Jesus demonstrated that every morsel represents something greater than just a piece of food. That true gratitude would not only include abundance of supply but a deep appreciation of what is on hand. A quote from the chapter on marriage in Science and Health demonstrates this further “Said the peasant bride to her lover: ‘Two eat no more together than they eat separately.’ This is a hint that a wife ought not to court vulgar extravagance or stupid ease, because another supplies her wants.” (P58) I interpret this as guidance that even as we recognize that God can easily supply all our needs it is critical to be appreciative of everything down to a seed of grain.

One practical step I am now taking is reusing “disposable” plastic bags. I started with identifying the spiritual qualities of a plastic bag such as order, cleanliness, and simplicity. I realized that by reusing the bag, I could focus more on the infinite nature of those qualities and appreciate the utility of the bag on a spiritual level. I did not need to be guided by a sense of guilt or fear but a great appreciation, which made the process easier and to use a popular term, more sustainable. In conserving water, I work to recognize its activity as an expression of God’s qualities. Conserving electricity is less about fear of lack and more about appreciation of the intelligence of using less to meet my human needs.

I found it helpful to remember that these demonstrations of healing, whether in my experience or in the Bible, are not just about making a temporary fix for hunger/thirst or a temporary reprieve from material problems. Instead they are an opportunity to better understand the limitless nature of God’s creation.

This mentality of appreciation recently paid dividends, in a way that I could not have planned. I was out riding my bike and passed through a parking lot where I saw a sofa with a ripped cushion by a dumpster. I went and got my truck and took it back to my apartment. I realized at the time that I did not need the sofa and did not have a place to put it, but I took it home anyway. After having the sofa sit on my porch for a few days, I got my answer as to how the sofa – previously discarded – could be utilized the best. An apartment building in the city had caught on fire and almost 200 families were affected. I was able to donate the sofa to the organization helping the displaced families and it was warmly accepted. The sofa became valuable by looking past a ripped cushion into the usefulness it still expressed.

In each of these experiences the limited or harmful view of something was overturned and more of God’s creation was seen, as it was created, intact. As we begin to appreciate the lasting qualities of what is present in our experience, we can also appreciate, that while temporarily unseen, a solution exists for the situation facing this planet, and it is just a matter of listening for the inspiration that will guide us in practical healing ways. It might even lead us in the opposite direction of what we thought, like using the greenhouse gases to our advantage. As our understanding of our true dominion expands, we can overcome the fear of dire predictions and we can work to realize a true balanced cycle in which all are blessed.

Freedom from beliefs of contagion

One Saturday night I was studying the Bible selections which I would read in the Christian Science Church service the next morning. As First Reader, I and the Second Reader, would conduct the primary part of the service. While preparing for this activity, symptoms of a cold came over me very abruptly. At first I wondered about what could be the cause of this illness from a physical standpoint, but then I realized I did not want to find a material cause for a problem that I knew could be healed with spiritual prayer. I had experienced healing of different challenges by better understanding my oneness with God as taught in Christian Science, and knew this situation was no different.

The most pressing concern about these symptoms was the challenge they would impose upon me during the service the next day. I just prayed quietly for a while about how this activity of joining with others at the Sunday worship is God’s will and could not be interrupted by claims of illness.

I recognized these symptoms were based on a suggestion that there is something outside of me which can infect my well being and cause hardship. I challenged this claim with the idea that all God made is good and God made all (refer to Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p 311: 4-6.) With that in mind, I knew I must be intact in God’s goodness and nothing can infect me, because there can be nothing harmful to me. A quote from the fourteenth chapter of the book of Romans confirms this “All things indeed are pure.” This verse is in reference to the idea that all things done in good conscience are pure, and it is only our thought which seems to make them less than pure.

As I continued to study the unfolding concepts of the Bible lesson, and confirm that it was right for me to be uninhibited by these symptoms, I noticed that all signs of a cold were completely gone before I went to bed. The service the next day went wonderfully and I feel I was blessed by being there.

This proved to be a helpful lesson for me in learning to trust God’s care. Also, I feel I gained a better understanding of the following statement about divine Science “ Science not only reveals the origin of all disease as mental, but it also declares that all disease is cured by divine Mind” (S&H p169.)

Guidance and Provision

I received a bill from an online directory service where I advertise as a part time Christian Science Practitioner. This is someone who offers to provide prayerful assistance for others with physical, emotional, financial, or relationship difficulty.

I had not received much interest from this advertisement and was wondering whether it was the best way to use my financial resources to offer help to others. In praying about this situation, I was thinking about the idea that all true guidance comes from God. This spiritual mentality helps protect my thought from fear and a sense of limitation. There is no way that God’s goodness and love can be less than all good and I needed to pray to realize that fact. I knew that offering help to others was a good thing and I should continue to pursue it. By listening to God’s guidance I would find the right steps. A verse from the Bible “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him” (1 John 4:16) illustrated that trust instead of fear would allow me to be guided in the most harmonious way. I put the decision off for about a week.

The second billing notice came and I decided to be more receptive for an idea that would indicate the proper steps for me to follow. Later that morning I unexpectedly received payment from someone I had helped weeks before find a prayer based solution to a difficulty. It was the exact amount I needed to pay my bill. Also, the same day, I got a call from someone needing prayerful help who had found my ad from the online directory service. These gentle reminders of God’s care were just what I needed. I renewed my advertisement without hesitation. This experience reassured me that I could rely on God’s guidance and provision.

Divine Love reveals the Truth- April 2007

“Promise is most given when least is said” is a quote from George Chapman’s poem Hero and Leander. I take from this to mean that human promises are only as good as the actions of the person offering them. This would imply that there is no greater governing force or sense of guidance than one’s own conscience.

The Bible describes a correcting and guiding God in the 23^rd chapter of Psalms, one that comforts us with His rod and staff. A supreme Being governing each of His/Her children is such a joyous concept.

Recently, a friend of mine had done something to break a promise made to me. At first it was not revealed outright, but became apparent through indirect apologies and discussions.

I spent most of one day trying not to speculate about what was the “wrong doing” that was the reason for these vague apologies. I felt it right for the truth to be revealed and any wrongs to be corrected. At the same time it was a bit of a struggle to keep from feeling as though I’d be hurt as an outcome.

A helpful thought was “....if there is any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these” (Philippians 4:8). I prayed to know that this individual expressed the desire to be honest as evidenced by the promise.

This was helpful to recognize that my friend had been honest in the past and that this was proof of the inherent true nature as God’s child. No illusion of dishonesty could change that identity. In this way each of us has no choice but to express honesty and integrity.

I decided to send an email asking for an explanation of the apologies. As I wrote it, I found it challenging to keep it in a non-accusatory tone. So, I kept it simple.

The response from my friend was a denial of any apology. I decided not to send a reply at that time, but instead walked to a nearby grocery store. On the way there and on the way back, I tried to recognize the presence of divine Love in this situation.

I started with the idea that as a child of God I could not be harmed by the actions of another, because all good comes from God directly to me, not through others. So this claim of dishonesty could not take anything away from me. This helped a bit, but did not address my sense of unease with the actions of my friend.

The spiritual breakthrough came when I was walking back home. As I crossed in front of a church, I began to think of the magnitude of what Love really offers. I felt that it had to provide more than just a way to fix personal problems. I realized that I needed to raise my concept of divine Love beyond just how it would impact my situation. I needed to see a divine Love that is the very harmony that underlies all existence.

I felt a sense of warmth that comes to me when there seems to be a dawning of a higher understanding of God’s true nature. I just felt comforted in knowing that dishonesty is not allowed by divine Love. Love would not allow anyone to do anything contrary to the divine nature of Creation. Love would govern this situation.

I had been home only a few minutes when I got a phone call from my friend, who described what had happened and apologized for the dishonesty. Later in the conversation I asked when the idea came to tell me the truth, and the reply was “about 10 minutes ago”. This was about the same time as the thought of a greater sense of Love’s guidance was dawning for me.

It was nice that the dishonesty was uncovered and that harmony was restored. Much greater though, was a glimpse into the glorious truths that Mrs. Eddy shares with us in her quote “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need” (S&H 494). This experience, though not nearly as challenging as many situations around the world, gives me confidence to see that there is more to a promise than just a material mind expressing a willful desire. It is a connection to a higher sense of justice available to all.

HEALING- No break with God's Love

A few years ago, I was working for the Peace Corps in a small village in Eastern Africa, along the lakeshore of Malawi. I lived a simple life with no cellphone, Internet, electricity, or piped water. Although being in a remote location made contact with family and friends in the United States difficult, my new neighbors in Malawi helped me feel at home. They always expressed great kindness and compassion toward me, inviting me to share meals and visit them frequently.

One day, inspired to show hospitality to a friend, I scheduled dinner with him at my house. That afternoon, I was working outside with basic carpentry hand tools, trying to make a simple piece of furniture. As I was cutting a board of beautiful hardwood, it slipped off the workbench and landed on the soft top part of my foot. I was wearing flip-flops at the time, which offered little protection from the impact of the board. I remember hearing a cracking sound in my foot and feeling that something had shifted. My foot became painful to move or put weight on. I immediately turned my thought away from pain and acceptance of this injury, to the renewing power of God’s love.

Although as a child I’d attended Christian Science Sunday School, I’d just recently become reacquainted with Christian Science before leaving the United States for Malawi. I’d been to visit a Christian Scientist who lived a few hours away from my home, and he lent me a book called A Century of Christian Science Healing (The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1966). The examples of healing in the book gave me a renewed confidence in Christian Science healing. And I had been inspired by this passage in Science and Health: “The confidence inspired by Science lies in the fact that Truth is real and error is unreal” (p. 368).

And so, when the board fell on my foot, I knew that this was an opportunity to completely rely on God for help with a calm and childlike trust. I turned wholeheartedly to Him to comfort me and still my thoughts.

I continued building the piece of furniture I was working on, while being mentally still and knowing that there could be no accident that could separate me from God’s protection and care. Because I felt confident in my spiritual heritage as God’s reflection, I felt no need to look at my foot to examine its condition. I did not move from that spot, but just kept affirming what was spiritually true, all along rejecting the suggestion that there was a power outside God that could damage or harm me. I didn’t want to leave that workbench until I felt complete confidence in the truth of these spiritual ideas.

I realized that my desire to prepare a nice meal for a friend had come out of hospitality, and that nothing could interfere with this quality of love, which came straight from God. In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy said, “Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action” (p. 454). I continued to joyfully accept that God could only have good in store for me, and that this accident was not part of His plan.

Within about half an hour or so, I was able to stand up and walk away comfortably to begin preparations for dinner. Although there was still some bruising on the top of my foot from the impact of the board, I wasn’t limited in my mobility in any way, and I felt that everything in my foot was in place.

My friend and I ended up having dinner outside, enjoying the bright stars and eating my favorite meal of eggs, rice, and beans. During the evening, we shared some great spiritual discussion, which was such a blessing to me.

In just a few days, all bruising on my foot had disappeared, and there was no evidence of anything being broken or dislodged.

I am grateful for the practical and demonstrable nature of Christian Science, which is applicable anywhere in the world, and at any time.