Or,
Nothing out of place
Sometime in March of 2011, I woke up and felt some discomfort around my rib cage. This had happened before—every couple of months or so for a few years. In previous occurrences I would just stretch until I heard a popping sound, and then everything would feel better.
However, on this particular day, no amount of stretching made any difference. Something inside my chest felt out of place, and it was painful to breathe throughout the day.
At the time I was a new student of Christian Science, and towards the end of the day, the idea came to me to deal with this challenge using what I’d learned in studying Christian Science.
That night I attended a Wednesday evening testimony meeting at the Christian Science church I attend. Part of the meeting is a time for testimonies, where people can stand up and share healings and spiritual insights they have had in practicing Christian Science.
While I was sitting in a pew waiting for the next person to share a testimony, I thought of God’s ever-presence and a quote by Mary Baker Eddy: “Spirit is supreme and all-presence” (Science and Health, p. 278).
I thought about how I’d perceived my ribs to be out of place—as if something in me, something God had created, could ever be out of place or not right where it should be. But Christian Science taught me that nothing in God’s existence could ever be anywhere else than where it should be.
This made me think of a situation I was having with my job at the time. I’d recently left my teaching position of five years to take a job in a completely different field, with a local non-profit organization.
This new job came as an answer to a prayer, but after the first week or two, I wasn’t sure it was the right placement for me after all.
As I sat in church, I realized I could never be in the wrong spot if God was with me. At once I felt at peace with my current job. God had opened the doors for me to have this job. And since He was there guiding my every move, I knew then that at that time in my life, it was the perfect place of employment for my particular God-given skills and interests.
At that moment, I suddenly felt an almost tangible presence that God was right there with me. It felt like His presence and love were like a blanket surrounding me. This warm and embracing feeling encompassed my entire body, head to foot.
The thought came to me: if God is here, closer than my breath, and He is in the right place at all times, then I couldn’t possibly be in the wrong place. And nothing within me could be in the wrong place either.
A verse from Deuteronomy explains how close and present God is: “And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed” (Deut. 31:8).
I felt so peaceful—like I was exactly where I should be, with God orchestrating everything to follow His perfection. By the time the service ended, the pain in my chest had lessened. For the rest of the night, I thought of His presence and how everything was just as it should be. Nothing could be out of place. And by the next morning, the pain was completely gone.
I was so grateful. A few months later, I started to feel a bit of discomfort in my rib cage again. But the discomfort disappeared again moments after I reminded myself of the truths I knew and the peace I’d experienced from this wonderful healing.
Since then, I’ve not experienced any further discomfort from my rib cage. I’m so grateful for God’s omnipresence, and I’m grateful for Christian Science, which is with me the whole time.
Love is a Blanket
I’m wrapped up in a blanket of Love,
A good and “perfect gift” from above.
Keeping me safe, secure, and warm,
Uniquely fitted, a customized form.
Love is an ever-present protection,
Surrounding me as His own reflection.
Love is always in the right place,
And encompassing me in every case,
Where I am is correct and right,
Bathed in Love’s wonderful light.
--KB
Showing posts with label Mary Baker Eddy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mary Baker Eddy. Show all posts
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
The lies we believe
Have you ever believed something that someone told you, even though it seemed incredibly implausible? What is even more bizarre is that sometimes we believe lies about ourselves, things people claim that we are or labels they give us, when there is really no basis or evidence for these claims.
One evening, about 10 years ago, I was playing Taboo (or some game that was very similar) with 2 of my close friends. The concept of the game is to draw a card with a word on it, and to give the other players enough clues so that they are able to guess the word. There is a small list of other words on the card that they cannot use, and these are usually words that would make the challenge of the game practically non-existent. For example, if the word on the card was "kangaroo", you couldn't use the following words: pouch, hop, animal, Australia, captain.
So my friends and I were playing this game. Let's call 1 friend "Maria" and the other friend "Alice." It was Maria's turn to try to get Alice and me to guess. Maria drew a card, and suddenly got a big smile on her face. Alice and I knew this meant that the word was an easy one, and we were ready to guess! :) Maria said, "Okay! This is something that I just got." Alice and I looked at each other and simultaneously shouted, "A tattoo!" We were so pleased with our quick answer and our coinciding brilliance.
However, Maria looked really confused, and then shook her head. Suddenly, the 3 of us burst out laughing. Maria hadn't gotten a tattoo at all. Something about the phrasing of Maria's prompt made Alice and I instantly think of "tattoo," but that was not the case at all. I don't even think Maria wanted, or will ever want, a tattoo. And I have no idea why Alice and I both said that, with such confidence, at the same time! The correct answer was "a job." Maria had just been hired for a part-time job after school.
What was even funnier was that as soon as Alice and I screamed, "A tattoo!" with such conviction, Maria questioned this false statement herself. After our laughter died down, she told us that she had a momentary feeling of panic that she HAD gotten a tattoo. After all, Alice and I told her that she had! :) She had to double-check the card in front of her (and her memory) to reassure herself that hadn't gotten a tattoo and that that wasn't the key word.
I was reading the Christian Science Sentinel today, and there was an article in there that reminded me of this story from my childhood. The article talked about how, even though we can feel pretty confident in what we know, all it takes is a little lie to throw us off course. We may be CERTAIN that we don't have a tattoo, or that we are good at our job, or that our cooking skills are pretty good. But then one seed of doubt comes along, one bad review at work, one child who doesn't like vegetables, and all our confidence goes out the window.
In my experience, it has been essential, even life-saving, to know what is true about me. When doubts try to walk through the door of my thought, or climb through the windows, or even dig a hole under the foundation of my house (they can be pretty persistent sometimes!), I have to hold onto what I know to be true. Some of these truths about me are that I am a beautiful creation of God, made in His image and likeness, I have many good qualities, and that God loves me, has always loved me, and will always love me. These are the facts of my identity, and I should not believe any lies about who I am or what my true identity is.
In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, she says, “Stand porter at the door of thought" (Page 392). Sometimes when I am questioning my identity, or my goodness, I think of this passage and it reminds me to be in control of the thoughts that I have. I ask myself, "What am I letting in to my thought?" If it is not positive, doesn't uplift me in any way, or is not from God, does it really belong there?
It may seem preposterous to suddenly think you have a tattoo just because someone tells you so. Along these lines of reasoning, it is also equally preposterous to believe a lie about our character or our lack of goodness. Our true nature, our truth, comes from God, and whatever anyone else tells us is only true if it aligns with what God already knows about us.
One evening, about 10 years ago, I was playing Taboo (or some game that was very similar) with 2 of my close friends. The concept of the game is to draw a card with a word on it, and to give the other players enough clues so that they are able to guess the word. There is a small list of other words on the card that they cannot use, and these are usually words that would make the challenge of the game practically non-existent. For example, if the word on the card was "kangaroo", you couldn't use the following words: pouch, hop, animal, Australia, captain.
So my friends and I were playing this game. Let's call 1 friend "Maria" and the other friend "Alice." It was Maria's turn to try to get Alice and me to guess. Maria drew a card, and suddenly got a big smile on her face. Alice and I knew this meant that the word was an easy one, and we were ready to guess! :) Maria said, "Okay! This is something that I just got." Alice and I looked at each other and simultaneously shouted, "A tattoo!" We were so pleased with our quick answer and our coinciding brilliance.
However, Maria looked really confused, and then shook her head. Suddenly, the 3 of us burst out laughing. Maria hadn't gotten a tattoo at all. Something about the phrasing of Maria's prompt made Alice and I instantly think of "tattoo," but that was not the case at all. I don't even think Maria wanted, or will ever want, a tattoo. And I have no idea why Alice and I both said that, with such confidence, at the same time! The correct answer was "a job." Maria had just been hired for a part-time job after school.
What was even funnier was that as soon as Alice and I screamed, "A tattoo!" with such conviction, Maria questioned this false statement herself. After our laughter died down, she told us that she had a momentary feeling of panic that she HAD gotten a tattoo. After all, Alice and I told her that she had! :) She had to double-check the card in front of her (and her memory) to reassure herself that hadn't gotten a tattoo and that that wasn't the key word.
I was reading the Christian Science Sentinel today, and there was an article in there that reminded me of this story from my childhood. The article talked about how, even though we can feel pretty confident in what we know, all it takes is a little lie to throw us off course. We may be CERTAIN that we don't have a tattoo, or that we are good at our job, or that our cooking skills are pretty good. But then one seed of doubt comes along, one bad review at work, one child who doesn't like vegetables, and all our confidence goes out the window.
In my experience, it has been essential, even life-saving, to know what is true about me. When doubts try to walk through the door of my thought, or climb through the windows, or even dig a hole under the foundation of my house (they can be pretty persistent sometimes!), I have to hold onto what I know to be true. Some of these truths about me are that I am a beautiful creation of God, made in His image and likeness, I have many good qualities, and that God loves me, has always loved me, and will always love me. These are the facts of my identity, and I should not believe any lies about who I am or what my true identity is.
In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, she says, “Stand porter at the door of thought" (Page 392). Sometimes when I am questioning my identity, or my goodness, I think of this passage and it reminds me to be in control of the thoughts that I have. I ask myself, "What am I letting in to my thought?" If it is not positive, doesn't uplift me in any way, or is not from God, does it really belong there?
It may seem preposterous to suddenly think you have a tattoo just because someone tells you so. Along these lines of reasoning, it is also equally preposterous to believe a lie about our character or our lack of goodness. Our true nature, our truth, comes from God, and whatever anyone else tells us is only true if it aligns with what God already knows about us.
Friday, July 22, 2011
God, Vinnie, and me
I recently adopted a puppy from a local animal shelter. After some deliberation and brainstorming, my friend suggested the name "Vincent" for my puppy, and it stuck, but I call him "Vinnie" for short. He is a medium-sized dog, a mix between a yellow labrador and a beagle. He has a lot of energy and always keeps me on my toes. While raising and training a puppy is challenging at times, I am amazed by how much this dog teaches me about life and even about my own relationship with God.
When Vinnie gets hurt or scared, he comes running to me, and he whimpers if I don't immediately notice that he is in pain. He trusts me and knows I will take care of him. I feed him every day, give him affection, create safe boundaries for him, make sure he acts appropriately with gentle but firm reminders about his behavior, and am there for him and with him every day.
Vinnie trusts me and feels secure in my presence. His innocent trust and reliance on me remind me of the reliance and trust that are in my relationship with God. When I feel hurt or am dealing with a challenge, I should be going straight to God, like Vinnie comes straight to me. God is always there for me, always feeds and comforts me, and is with me every day just like I am with Vinnie every day. But sometimes I wonder if I have the same trust in God that Vinnie has in me. Do I pray as soon as I am in discomfort, or do I try to figure it out by myself first, as if I know better than God?
Along the same lines, what would it look like if Vinnie tried to solve all his problems on his own? I imagine Vinnie running out of food, and trying to open the front door of our place so he can run to the nearest PetSmart. Poor little guy wouldn't know what to do when he found out he couldn't turn the doorknob without thumbs. And when he DID get to PetSmart, I have no doubt that he could sniff out his favorite food. But then how would he pay for the food, once he dragged the 38.5 pound (17.4 kg) bag to the counter? I've certainly never seen the little guy sporting a wallet, and I don't give him an allowance or anything.
I start to wonder if I am as ineffectual when I try to do things on my own, without looking to God as my source of good. I just don't have the tools or the resources, much like Vinnie lacks the thumbs, to get the job done or to care for myself effectively. All I need to do is trust in God, and all these things will be provided for. "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ... But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6: 31, 33). In my almost 30 years on this earth, I have never suffered from not having something; God has always provided. This also reminds me of a quote in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy: "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need" (Pg. 494).
So is the conclusion that Vinnie is smarter than me when it comes to knowing who to turn to in times of trouble? Quite possibly. But Vinnie seems to demonstrate many wonderful qualities that I would also like to demonstrate. There is so much in him that is God-like; he is so loving, trusting, affectionate, comforting, supportive, kind, and he is always there. I saw a video on YouTube that really spoke to me, about the qualities that dogs have that remind us of qualities that God has. The link to the video is here. One of my favorite lines of the song in the video is, "They (God and dogs) would stay with us all day; I'm the one that walks away. But both of them just wait for me, and dance at my return with glee" (GoD And DoG, Wendy Francisco).
That childlike sense of innocence and trust that Vinnie shows me every day inspire me to relate to God in that same way, without giving a second thought to "fixing things my way" or trying to solve problems myself before going to Him. Why wait to run to him? He has been there right by my side for every step of my life, and He will be with me forever. All I have to do is reach out and take His hand.
When Vinnie gets hurt or scared, he comes running to me, and he whimpers if I don't immediately notice that he is in pain. He trusts me and knows I will take care of him. I feed him every day, give him affection, create safe boundaries for him, make sure he acts appropriately with gentle but firm reminders about his behavior, and am there for him and with him every day.
Vinnie trusts me and feels secure in my presence. His innocent trust and reliance on me remind me of the reliance and trust that are in my relationship with God. When I feel hurt or am dealing with a challenge, I should be going straight to God, like Vinnie comes straight to me. God is always there for me, always feeds and comforts me, and is with me every day just like I am with Vinnie every day. But sometimes I wonder if I have the same trust in God that Vinnie has in me. Do I pray as soon as I am in discomfort, or do I try to figure it out by myself first, as if I know better than God?
Along the same lines, what would it look like if Vinnie tried to solve all his problems on his own? I imagine Vinnie running out of food, and trying to open the front door of our place so he can run to the nearest PetSmart. Poor little guy wouldn't know what to do when he found out he couldn't turn the doorknob without thumbs. And when he DID get to PetSmart, I have no doubt that he could sniff out his favorite food. But then how would he pay for the food, once he dragged the 38.5 pound (17.4 kg) bag to the counter? I've certainly never seen the little guy sporting a wallet, and I don't give him an allowance or anything.
I start to wonder if I am as ineffectual when I try to do things on my own, without looking to God as my source of good. I just don't have the tools or the resources, much like Vinnie lacks the thumbs, to get the job done or to care for myself effectively. All I need to do is trust in God, and all these things will be provided for. "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ... But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6: 31, 33). In my almost 30 years on this earth, I have never suffered from not having something; God has always provided. This also reminds me of a quote in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy: "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need" (Pg. 494).
So is the conclusion that Vinnie is smarter than me when it comes to knowing who to turn to in times of trouble? Quite possibly. But Vinnie seems to demonstrate many wonderful qualities that I would also like to demonstrate. There is so much in him that is God-like; he is so loving, trusting, affectionate, comforting, supportive, kind, and he is always there. I saw a video on YouTube that really spoke to me, about the qualities that dogs have that remind us of qualities that God has. The link to the video is here. One of my favorite lines of the song in the video is, "They (God and dogs) would stay with us all day; I'm the one that walks away. But both of them just wait for me, and dance at my return with glee" (GoD And DoG, Wendy Francisco).
That childlike sense of innocence and trust that Vinnie shows me every day inspire me to relate to God in that same way, without giving a second thought to "fixing things my way" or trying to solve problems myself before going to Him. Why wait to run to him? He has been there right by my side for every step of my life, and He will be with me forever. All I have to do is reach out and take His hand.
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