By Elaina Simpson, C.S.
We learn in Christian Science that our sense of home is really about our consciousness. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (the textbook on spiritual healing) it says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [LOVE] for ever." (SH, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 578:16) I've found it's especially helpful to pray for our mental home and to see home as a spiritual idea. This blesses our thoughts and therefore our experience. One week, I had felt inspired to ponder/pray about the concept of home. I have always loved this written prayer from the Mary Baker Eddy Library: "This is God’s spiritual household. Nothing can enter to annoy or destroy. Nothing can enter to manifest sin, sickness: nor death, nor discouragement, for God, good, fills this household with perfect love and peace and governs every member of it." (This has been a popular reference for some that study Christian Science. Researchers do not know who authored this. You can find more info about that here, thanks to the Mary Baker Eddy Library.) I really appreciated the words in this short prayer and kept it in thought.
One morning I walked to the neighborhood post box with one of my dogs. The post box was located on the sidewalk by a busy street. Opening the postbox made a creaky, high-pitched sound that was an uncomfortable and scary noise for my dog. This resulted in him pulling out of his collar and running into the street-- In the middle of rush hour traffic.
In a split second, I only recalled my prayer about home that day. Instead of feeling overwhelming fear, I saw this situation as an imposition on an untouchable, spiritual view of 'home" that I had been thinking about. For me, my loved dog is an extension of my home. I found myself standing in the middle of the busy street directing traffic and stopping cars (something I had never done before). A sweet neighbor asked my dog to come over to her, introducing his dog to mine to create a distraction and to get him out of the street. The whole issue was cleared up in a matter of 30 seconds.
This view of home being indestructible was helpful to me in this time of need. I could fearlessly say a mental "no" to the idea of my sense of home being threatened. I know that people have helpful and safe resolutions to challenges without directly praying. But in this instance, I could feel the effect of prayer. What could have been a stressful situation, was handled so quickly and effortlessly.
The next day, I felt inspired to continue to pray about home. I had plans to go out that day but felt it was best to stay home and continue working. I sat on my back deck and read the Christian Science Bible Lesson. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and the sky was blue. I looked back down at the readings, kept reading a bit... I looked up again and suddenly, I saw smoke billowing from the woods-- Just feet beyond our fence. In a matter of a minute, all around me was dark, it smelled like smoke and ashes were falling onto my yard. A neighbor yelled over to me to call the fire department immediately. The neighbor had started spraying their yard with a hose in efforts to protect her home. I thought, "I might have to leave the house now," but it felt more productive (in this specific instance) to just continue praying and studying.
I held to the same idea as I did a couple days before at the post box, that "Home is an indestructible idea of God." Technically I didn't have to pray to fix or change anything, but just to know that this law of God, a harmonious home, was intact. Home, consciousness, is an unthreatened idea of God. I was able to call the fire department. It took them multiple tries and five hours to put out the fire (started by people smoking in the woods). But, it didn't spread to me or my neighbor's home. We were so grateful! Home is an indestructible idea. This is a law of God and when applied in prayer/consciousness, we see that this idea is always safe. A spiritual idea cannot be hindered (in spiritual reality, the only reality) by material 'things' or 'situations'. It's not up to us to make this law happen, nor can we prevent this idea from being a law. But when situations arise, one can remember how protected God's ideas are, and that our consciousness (our home) is safe, in God. This does bless. Have a lovely evening,
Elaina
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