Plants under God's care

The weather has been unusually warm this week here in northern Illinois. As I’ve sat in my chair near the window and gazed outside, it seems strange to see spring-like green tinges in the lawn in early January. It starts my thought wandering to summer gardening – looking forward to planting new flowers and seeing them bloom and grow. Ah, but it will be a few months yet before anything really can be done in that way around here!

But as I’ve been reading and contemplating that first chapter of Genesis over the last couple weeks, I realized there is a perfect idea there in verses 11 and 12 to help with gardening. Here are those verses (from NIV):

11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

To the regular gardener, it would seem like there are a couple of crucial things missing for plants to spring forth and bear seed: water (in the form of rain or irrigation) and sunshine. But, before God creates the sun, before rain has watered the face of the ground, there are plants – plants that grow and reproduce. All of them – in their infinite variety – growing at God’s command. And all with seed so there will be new growth continuing.

I think I’m going to enjoy pondering these verses more when I’m able to get the trowel out this spring and get some things planted.

Right now, though, I’m also feeling so grateful for a special “find” yesterday. About a month ago our homeowners’ association (we live in a townhouse complex) had work done on the drainage system around our house – essentially digging out all of the old and putting in new. This meant lots of digging and a lot of mess, and some surprisingly into the garden areas around the house (not much communication on details before the work began, unfortunately).

After the workers were done and we’d had an opportunity to scope out what was really done, I was feeling particularly sad because there was a clump iris plants near the front corner of the house that had been just gorgeous last year. The best blooms of any the irises around the yard. But it was right where they needed to dig for part of the new system. And so the irises were gone.

But yesterday, as I left the house to go do some errands, I noticed it – a clump of plants – long greenish leaves rising up – tucked in behind the lilac bush near the corner of the house. It was those irises I thought had been lost to the shovels! I just felt this wash of gratitude – one of the workers had very thoughtfully and carefully dug out those irises and tucked them in a safe place. I don’t know why I hadn’t noticed them before. I’d been by a few times. But there they were! The sight made me feel so happy. And I’m going to trust the truth in those verses from Genesis that indicate God as the impulsion for growth in all plant life, and that the kindness of the worker who took the time to safeguard those plants will ensure new blooms and sturdy growth for those irises this year and in the future.

Much joy!

The creating is in the saying

Okay, I am still thinking about the first chapter of Genesis. But there’s so much in these 31 verses! Probably a lifetime of learning that can be gathered from this chapter.

Here’s some of what I’ve been pondering the last few days.

1) “And God said.” Each step of spiritual creation detailed in this chapter begins with this phrase. As creation began and expanded, God declare more and more about Himself; revealed more of His infinite self in other forms of creation – light first, then heaven, earth, seas, vegetation, stars, sea creatures, birds, land animals and finally man – higher and higher. Of course, this statement might make you think of the first line of the Gospel of John, “In the beginning was the Word.” “In the beginning” was God expressing Himself, divine Love knowing Himself and expressing that knowledge. And for much of creation, this statement, “and God said …” takes care of the creating. God says, and it happens. Sometimes this is reinforced or the creation is detailed by the addition of “God made” or “God created.”

2) “And God saw ...” Regularly, there’s this statement. It’s like periodically God takes a step back and looks over what has been done, what He’s revealed of Himself. It struck me that this look had to have been filled with love, because God is Love (I John 4). Love was expressing Him/Herself in creation. He could only behold it with love because He is Love and because the reflection of Himself, creation, is made of Love, is expressing Love. God loves all of creation because it is an expression of Himself, an expression of Love that reflects back that infinite Love that created it.

3) “… that it was good.” Each time God sees His creation, He declares it good. Covered this some here, so I don’t think I’ll do more on this aspect today.

So God knew, and then He saw. The “Glossary” definition of God in Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy begins: “The great I AM; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal;” (587:5-6) A friend once shared that it meant a lot to her one time when she was praying for healing of a broken leg that the knowing came before the seeing. That comment struck me as interesting and has stuck with me. I think we see it here – “God said” and then “God saw.” His knowing is a revealing that He and all of His creation can see. It’s kind of comforting to think of God’s knowing something first, forming it in His thought – because that formation must be perfect because God is perfect. And as He knows, He sees – sees the perfection of this idea. And we can see it, too!

This all reminds me of MBE’s statement giving spiritual insight to Gen 1:5:

(SH 504:6)
All questions as to the divine creation being both spiritual and material are answered in this passage, for though solar beams are not yet included in the record of creation, still there is light. This light is not from the sun nor from volcanic flames, but it is the revelation of Truth and of spiritual ideas. This also shows that there is no place where God's light is not seen, since Truth, Life, and Love fill immensity and are ever-present. Was not this a revelation instead of a creation?

So, perhaps no great final answers, mostly just some thoughts I’m pondering. But a good reminder to be looking to see more clearly and hopefully more consistently, as God enables me to see, the revelation of Himself, what He knows about me and the entire universe. This creation is there all around us, and it is good!

What do you think about these ideas? Would love to hear what your prayers and ponderings of this chapter have revealed to you!

Very good

Still thinking about Genesis chapter 1 this morning, toady appreciating that statement at the end of most of the days of creation, "and God saw that it was good." (Gen. 1:12, 18, 21, 25) After each progressive step of creation, God pauses, looks at what He did, and confirms its goodness, its rightness, fitness, correctness, wholeness, etc.

And it struck me - hadn't really stood out to me before now - at the end of the six day, when all elements are done, God looks at the whole and declares that "it was very good." (Gen. 1:31) The whole is not just good, as He declared each stage, but exceedingly so. The whole is good to a high degree.

To me, this is saying that each element is needed and combines with the others to lift the whole to the highest sense of perfection and good. To the fullness of God's expression. Each element of God's creation is essential to support the others, to enable the others to fully express God in the way He created it to express Him. And to achieve this full expression of good, of harmony and perfection and health, we need that first element of creation - light - to shine on us all to help us see what God saw - harmony, order, good. We have to have light to see by and to reflect!

I'm praying with these ideas especially for all that is going on in the Middle East right now. Praying to know that each individual in this wonderful world of ours is essential, is needed to support and enrich the lives and experiences of others, and that the impact of each others lives can only bless one another because, as God's creation, we are good and upright. Affirming that each individual is so loved by divine Love, our infinite Creator and only experiences and expresses to all around him/her/it that infinite Love. I'm praying to realize that the ultimate seal of approval - that every thing that God had made was "very good" - ensures the harmony in our relationships, the moral excellence that we each express in our relationships with others, that everyone's actions are well-behaved and bless all those around us and that eveyrone can see and experience this spiritual fact now.

"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. ... And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. " (Phil 4:4, 7)

Prounced good

One of my favorite Bible verses is prominently in this week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson: “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” (Gen. 1:31) It feels like most of the time when I am praying about something, I end up at this verse at some point in my prayers. To me, it is one of those (probably very many!) key ideas in the Bible. Here we are. We’ve just finished reading the story of the first six days of spiritual creation, and we find this amazing statement. God took a look at what all He made, and pronounced it all good.

Have you ever looked up the word “good” in the dictionary? Certainly it is a word we use about every day and I always felt I had a good grasp on the meaning of the word until I looked it up a few years ago. I was amazed at the number of entries for this simple little word (in its adjective form)! In the dictionary I used, I found over 30 entries.

Some of these definitions weren’t surprising. As I read them, I thought, “Yeah, I know the word that way.” But for some, my response was more, “Oh, yeah, it means that, too!” I wrote many of these entries down and have referred to them off and on since. Here are some of what I have:

1) morally excellent; virtuous, righteous
2) satisfactory in quality, quantity or degree
3) of high quality; excellent
4) right, proper, fit
5) well-behaved
6) kind or friendly
7) honorable or worthy
8) educated and refined
9) financially sound or safe
10) genuine; not counterfeit
11) sound or valid
12) healthful, beneficial
13) in excellent condition; healthy
14) cheerful; amiable
15) free of distress or pain; comfortable
16) agreeable; enjoyable
17) attractive
18) smooth; free from blemish
19) sufficient or ample
20) competent or skillful; clever
21) full
22) fertile; rich
23) loyal

In the Hebrew lexicon in Strong’s Bible Concordance, the Hebrew word translated as “good” in the King James Version of the Bible has for its definition “good in the widest sense.” So that sure seems like it encompasses all of the above meanings of the word, and more. How cool is that? “God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very [excellent, virtuous, fit, well-behaved, friendly, safe, genuine, valid, healthy, cheerful, comfortable, blemish free, sufficient, competent, fertile, rich, loyal, etc.].” And that is true about every element of His creation, including all of us!

Recently, when I was helping someone through prayerful treatment, the words “sealed” and “stamped” popped into my thought. When I looked up definitions for these words, I found that to seal something “confirms it, makes it secure or determines irrevocably or indisputably.” When something is stamped, it is “provided with a distinctive character.” And then it struck me, our stamp or seal is God, Divine Life’s declaration in this verse from Genesis: “very good,” or very [insert ‘appropriate/needed definition of the word good’ here]. These concepts make me think of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, or the USDA stamps on various meats, and such things. People trust those and look to them for guidance in making purchase – that the products are of good quality, safe, can be trusted. What a much better seal and stamp we have – we have God’s seal “VERY GOOD” right there on us, permanently, irrevocably. And that’s a pretty distinctive character that can be counted on as our real self.

I can see a few of these definitions that I need to understand better for and about myself. So I’ll be looking at this verse with alternative definitions for good this week – trying to see more clearly what all this good is in my life. So many answers are given in this simple little sentence with its simple little word. Fun!

A little twist on an old favorite

Here's a new take on an old favorite verse from Psalm 23 that I found today. Verse six of this psalm is the Golden Text for the Christian Science Bible Lesson this week, so I took a little time to explore it more deeply with a variety of Bible translations, a couple of commentaries and the Hebrew lexicon in Strong's Concordance.

The verse reads: (Ps 23:6)

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

I've looked up a few of the words in this verse before - mostly "goodness," "mercy," the ones that seemed more important, but I'd never paid much attention to the first word - "surely" until today. And have always taken it as an affirmation (which it is), that without a doubt, goodness and mercy will be with me. Or, as one commentator says, they are like two angels who pursue you, determined to run you down. Fun thought!

Anyway, I checked on "surely" and found that, in addition to that affirmative, the Hebrew word used in this verse can also mean "only." So, "only goodness and mercy shall follow me" - nothing else but that goodness and lovingkindness that God has for his loved creation. No curses or blights, no plagues or illnesses - nothing bad can pursue me, much less catch up to me - only goodness and mercy.

Or, as Patterson puts in in the Message Bible:

Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.

Just makes you feel wonderful to think about it!

Much joy!

Test Time

It is that time of year again I think – midterms! I was remembering when I began taking classes for a graduate program about a decade ago. I was at an unfamiliar university. In a program that was new to me. I had an overload of classes. And I held a teaching assignment in an unfamiliar subject. And now -- tests!

I was scared. So scared, in fact, that I could hardly study. Every time I tried -- with my textbooks, notebooks, cue cards, handouts -- I got nowhere. I couldn't focus on anything except how hard these tests were going to be. How did I get into this graduate program anyway? Why was I doing this to myself?

Taking a walk on the Sunday morning before all of these exams, I really reached out to God for an answer. A Bible passage I'd always liked came to mind: "God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (II Timothy 1:7)

I thought about the statement, rolled it over and over in my mind. And then something about it struck me -- there's a distinction between fear and the three good things listed: power, love and a sound mind. God doesn't give us all four, but only the latter three. Fear doesn't come from God, and I didn't want anything that didn't come from God.

I sincerely believe that the only thing I can have comes from God's abundant love, the source of everyone's intelligence, including mine. It was giving me the strength, and the love, and the sound mind I needed to take the tests.

As I thought about these ideas that fall day, I started to feel joyful. My fear dropped off, because God's good was filling me up with a sense of goodness. I began to think more clearly. When I got home, I found I could focus on the work I needed to do to prepare for these tests. Any time the fear tried to sneak back in, I thought about that Bible passage and how fear and a sound mind cannot mingle. Soon the fear would go away again.

I took four tests that week. I did great on the three that were most important to my degree. The fourth, however, did not go so well -- but all was not lost. A couple of days later, my advisor called. He actually apologized for not realizing that I was so overloaded that semester! He didn’t understand that I was actually teaching a class on my own, not just assisting a professor with one. He strongly encouraged me to drop that problematic course, which I gladly did.

The next time tests came along (and you know they did!), I was off to a much better start. I didn't have to conquer fear again -- just the subject matter.

Here's a link to an idea from Science and Health, too, that describes what these spiritual views can do for us, whether a student or not, why the study of divine Science is so helpful in all ascpects of life.

Everywhere there’s light

In Mary Baker Eddy’s book of collected writings, Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, there is an interesting six page article called “An Allegory.” I was reading it again this morning and didn’t make it past the end of the first sentence before I had to pause for a while. The sentence is: (323:2-6)

Picture to yourself "a city set upon a hill," a celestial city above all clouds, in serene azure and unfathomable glory: having no temple therein, for God is the temple thereof; nor need of the sun, neither of the moon, for God doth lighten it.

Obviously MBE is indicating here chapter 21 in Revelation where John describes the holy city, New Jerusalem. Though I’ve read this part of Revelation many times and have read this allegory a few times before, this morning I really had to sit back and ponder this depiction of light.

No sun, no moon, stars, street lamps, etc., just God giving light to the city. So the source of light is God, infinite Spirit, who I think of as omnipresent – everywhere present, always present. So the source is all around the city, not from some specific point and it is always “on”. And so it struck me, do you know what isn’t there? Shadows! The light is coming for all over; essentially is. You would need light to come from an object or point and then for it to shine on some thing that could block some of the rays in order to create a shadow. But this isn’t the case in the celestial city, the realm of God. God just shines and surrounds all spiritual creation in His light. Kind of cool, I think.

An image that this concept brought to my mind is from Star Trek: Deep Space 9. Don’t know if you ever watched this show, but periodically Captain Sisko would have encounters with a group of infinite beings called “the Prophets.” When he is with them, he is enveloped in light. Everything around him is white light. Hmm, don’t think he had any shadows, either. I think this might be a useful image to use to try to picture what this total surround of spiritual light might be like.

But what a great thought – to be shadow-less, to have no darkness on you or cast by you. This is what the true spiritual being is like. So to me this indicates that my role is to expect this light, see this light, and do what I can not to block it from shining purely, perfectly everywhere I go, in encounters with others – essentially to be expressing those good and wonderful spiritual qualities that reflects that light of Divine Being and helps to obliterate the shadows that cloud my own and others’ sense of life.

I think this is just the tip of the iceberg on this perspective of light and so I will be picturing for myself this "city that is set on a hill" awash in light for a while. What does that look like to you?

Owning and voicing our gifts

I’d been reading this sweet little book by Julia Cameron, Blessings, each night before going to bed much of last year but stopped half-way through a while back. Not sure why, just stopped the habit. Last night I picked it up again from the table near my bedside where’s its been for these past months and opened it to the chapter (each “chapter” is like a journal note on a topic, just a page or two of spiritual insight and uplift) where I’d left off, and was amazed. Here’s what Ms. Cameron had to share on the topic “I voice the universe in an original way” (page 92):

I bring to life a unique and powerful voice. My insights and perceptions are important blessings. Voicing my insights and perceptions is important to the world. I am an irreplaceable individual whose gifts benefit all. Owning my gifts, inhabiting them, and expanding them are my gifts to the world and those with whom I share it. As I become larger, more colorful, and more truly myself, I create for others the realization that it is safe for them to become larger, more vibrant, more fully alive. Moving upward and outward in a spirit of creative community, I am non-competitive and truly collaborative, growing larger myself while helping others to achieve their true size as well. The cosmic web is alive with greater and greater consciousness, larger and brighter possibility. As I extend my hand in my immediate world, I alter and enlarge the benevolence of the world as a whole. My every action is sweet and significant. Knowing this, I consciously and creatively act for the highest good. My unique voice and consciousness bless all.

The ideas in this passage from Blessings reminded me immediately of something from Mary Baker Eddy’s booklet Pulpit and Press (p. 43) which I hadn’t thought of for a while:

"What if the little rain should say,
'So small a drop as I
Can ne'er refresh a drooping earth,
I'll tarry in the sky.'"

Is not a man metaphysically and mathematically number one, a unit, and therefore whole number, governed and protected by his divine Principle, God? You have simply to preserve a scientific, positive sense of unity with your divine source, and daily demonstrate this. Then you will find that one is as important a factor as duodecillions in being and doing right, and thus demonstrating deific Principle. A dewdrop reflects the sun. Each of Christ's little ones reflects the infinite One, and therefore is the seer's declaration true, that "one on God's side is a majority."

Wow! I needed this idea. Thought it might help others, so wanted to be sure to share it here. Such a good reminder to ask myself, “Am I using the ideas, gifts, talents, etc. God has given me, especially in the way He would like me to use them? Or am I holding back and thus perhaps not helping another feel the fullness of their expression too?” Oh, so likely that I do, certainly have many times over held back from sharing or following through on an idea for fear – fear for being wrong, sounding dumb, off-base, weird. But, if these ideas, inspirations, etc. that I've gotten are from God, there is not, cannot be anything dumb about them, nothing about each one of them and how I would express it that is not on-target. Okay, maybe they might seem weird, at least to others, but what's really wrong with that? Just being fully unique!

I especially appreciate Ms. Cameron’s reminder that, by expressing our true selves more fully, we help others express themselves more vibrantly, joyously, wholly. That’s generosity at work, too. Changes one’s motives about why we share and express our God-given talents and being, doesn’t it? Not for our own display, but to fully express and therefore give praise to God, and to help lift up our neighbor. Hmmm, doesn’t that sound like the two Great Commandments? (Mark 12: 28-34)

I am so grateful for this reminder and will endeavor to watch more that I don’t hold back, don’t do less than express myself and talents as God knows me, and hope and know that this fuller expression of me will help others along as well. Great tie-in to this week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson, too, if you are checking that out.

So own your voice and share it! Be that little rain drop that drops from the clouds and bless the world! I'll be trying to do so more. Hmmm, that sounds like more incentive to share in this blog-way. :)

The Canaanite Woman

I’ve long been intrigued by the healing story in Matthew 15:21-28 – where the Canaanite woman pursues Jesus and his disciples, wanting healing for her daughter who is possessed with a devil. I just love her exchange with Jesus! How sharp and quick she was to respond in the way she did! And thereby she won the healing she wanted for her daughter.

Several things struck me about this story as I read it this week:

o She was bold – she asked for what she wanted. Here she was, a woman, and from a non-Hebrew culture (The Hebrews were actually supposed to wipe out the Canaanites when they were brought to the Promised Land – so not a lot of great feelings between these groups!), pretty low on the scale to get any sort of notice, much less to ask a favor of someone so important.
o She loved – she must have loved her daughter so dearly, enabling her to put herself in this position of begging for help

o She was perceptive – she recognized that Jesus was the Messiah. Note that she addressed him right up front as the “son of David” – one of the ways the Messiah is referred to. She’d probably seen his healing work, or at least heard about it and this meant Christ to her.

o She was so persistent – to the point of driving Jesus’ disciples crazy! They wanted him to get rid of her, likely by giving in and giving her what she wanted. And she kept asking, and was rewarded for this persistence.
o She was clever – she picked up on an opening Jesus gave her when he did respond to her pleas. He said “it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to the dogs.” Yes, she was the dog; she understood the inference. Probably wasn’t the first time she’d been referred to in this way. But she also got that he wasn’t referring to stray dogs, those that roam the streets looking for scraps. No, he was referring to the household dogs. Some Bible translations use “little dogs” or “household dogs.” So pets, animals that already had a place in the household, though lower than the family members (well, people family members as some of us look at our pets as our children!). It was the custom of the time to wipe one’s hands on bread while eating – no napkins – and to let these pieces of bread drop on the floor for such household pets to scavenge. So she perceived that this was the image Jesus was describing, and latched onto it and responded in a way that indicated her apprehension: “Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.”

o She had faith – she believed what Jesus could do for her daughter. This strengthened her persistence. This Jesus must have perceived easily – based on her persistence and her willingness to place herself in this type of situation where she was unwelcome, unwanted, another Pariah. And she was rewarded for this faith. Her daughter was healed.

She’s a good reminder on how to pursue a healing. So I think I am going to be checking myself more regularly – am I being persistent, importunate in my prayers? Here are a couple of thoughts from Science and Health about persistence and its importance in working out our salvation:

400:18

By lifting thought above error, or disease, and contending persistently for truth, you destroy error.

462:13

Whoever would demonstrate the healing of Christian Science must abide strictly by its rules, heed every statement, and advance from the rudiments laid down. There is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way is pointed out; but self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life.

He finds those lost sheep

I’ve been thinking a lot about Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep from Luke 15 this week. (Those of you who study the Christian Science Weekly Bible Lesson will recognize it from the Responsive Reading – hence the impetus to thinking about this one this week! Anyone who is unfamiliar with the Weekly Bible Lesson can check it out a little bit on eBibleLesson.com. Unfortunately you have to subscribe to read, hear or view all of it, unless you look locally – it may be on TV or radio in your area – or it is certainly available at your nearby Christian Science Reading Room.)

More than anything, what strikes me about this parable is the amazing tenderness of the shepherd for the lost sheep. He cared so much for that one individual (and he would/did for each sheep individually), that he left all the rest to go find it. And then the joy in bringing that lost sheep home! He wanted everyone to celebrate with him, he was so happy for its return!

But what stood out to me as really emphasizing this tenderness was that the shepherd himself went to go find the lost sheep. He didn’t send one of his hired workers. He does the work of bringing back the lost one. But who else really would care as much as the shepherd? Jesus points this out in his conversation with the Jews at the Temple in John 10 – where he describes himself as the Good Shepherd. He says that the hireling flees in the face of problems and danger because he doesn’t care for the sheep, but the Shepherd cares. He cares so much that he lays down his life for the sheep. Wow! That’s love. And it certainly was demonstrated by Jesus.

Another aspect of the shepherd’s tender care for the lost sheep in this parable is the manner in which he brings the sheep back. No dragging, no pushing it along, no lecturing and admonishing – no! He laid it “on his shoulders, rejoicing.” What closeness this precious one is given with the Shepherd, even though he strayed. He doesn’t have to walk back to the fold. He is carried back by someone who loves him dearly. One Bible commentator shares that this intimacy gave the Shepherd time with the lost one to reform the sinner and to heal him. Yes, certainly closeness with our Shepherd brings reform and healing. Love does that.

You might like to check out Wycliffe’s translation of this parable, too. Note what he uses in place of “lost” – “perished.” He goes after them that are perished. Well, desert environment. Certainly if a sheep wandered off, it is quite likely that, without the shepherd’s immediate care and attention, he will perish. The Greek word translated as lost in the KJV is “apollumi” and means, according to Strong’s lexicon “to destroy fully or (reflexively) to perish or lose.” I just thought this was really interesting. It says to me how imperative it is for the Shepherd to find the lost sheep. If he doesn’t’ they perish. But, even if they do, He can and will bring them back.

And this relates to the word “lost” used in Luke 19:10 – “…the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (It’s this week’s lesson’s Golden Text.) So the Son of man seeks out those that perished, according to Wycliffe. Okay, the good news – he seeks the lost out – seeks them out! And it is never too late. He’s seeking that which is perished – past tense. To me, the comfort I am feeling from this is that he can and will always find me or anyone who has strayed, and it is never too late. No matter what, he can bring us back, even if perished – and He will do it.

There’s a hope we can all cherish and a promise we can all count on!

You might also like to check out Laura Matthew’s post on Luke’s Gospel. It touches on this parable and especially one that Jesus shared after it – the Prodigal son.

The Sabbath - a deeper glimpse

During this past Wednesday meeting at the church I attend, during the testimony period I had some time to really think about what this Sabbath day concept and what it meant for the children of Israel as they began their journey in the wilderness toward the promised land, especially in relation to their freedom. (Here is the set of citations read at that meeting, if you want to check them out.) You know, it really struck me that the whole concept of a day of rest must have been so incredibly amazing to those people!

[As a side note: I don't know if you've been to a Wednesday testimony meeting at a Church of Christ, Scientist somewhere or not, but if you haven't, here's what happens. Attendees sing; they hear a selection of readings from the Bible and Science and Health put together by the person who has been elected to be First Reader; they pray; and they share testimonies. These testimonies can be anything from some great insight they've gained in their spiritual study to reporting of healing that have occured from the action of God's word in their lives. About half the time is spent on the latter, typically. There's usually some quite moments between sharing to pray and ponder.]

Think about it for a moment. Here are thousands of people who, for many generations - at least for all of each individual's life - have know nothing but slavery. And that meant work - constant, consistent, daily work. No days off, no weekends, no holidays, no vacations - just work. Some may have had things better than others depending on their specific role and/or owner, but still - work, work, work. Probably from as early as they could contribute. And even if they weren't working for someone, probably they were working for their family - gathering food as best they could, preparing it, supplying family with other needs. Never a moment of freedom, time to pause and reflect, just quick back. Phew!

So here they are. They've been taken away from everything they know by a God they'd heard about for generations and likely wondered about more than knew for the most part - who is He really? where was He? when will He help us? And now it was happening. They're leaving Egypt and captivity.

But life was still hard, especially at first. It was travel in the desert, after all! No rest stops with McDonald's to be found anywhere. And no food. But God is good. He provided for their needs. Daily, food was literally at their doorstep (or tent flap, I suppose). Manna in the morning; quails at night - enough to feed them all in the right amount each day.

But, as is described in Exodus 16, one day each week was different - the Sabbath day. On that day, no food was provided, no food collection and preparation was required. That didn't mean they went hungry. No way! They got enough for two days on the day before. The extra portion of food collected on day six lasted through the next day so the people had good food to eat then (and, to emphasize the specialness of the food lasting for two day, you should know that on other days of the week, anything left over went bad overnight - very bad).

God wanted them to take the day off. He didn't want them to work. After all, they were free now. What would that concept have seemed like if work was all you'd ever known?

It seems to me that the concept could have been very difficult to even grasp. Not to work, not even to provide that day's food for the family? How could that even be? Beyond comprehension when that was all you'd ever known!

That story in Exodus describes how the Israelites went out on the first Sabbath day to collect food anyway. God didn't appreciate this at all. Why weren't they trusting Him? They didn't have to work - they weren't slaves any more. But, I wonder, maybe for some it was more habit than lack of trust. They were used to working each and every day. What would they do if they weren't working?

Celebrate their freedom, that's what they could do! And give thanks to the Divine One that gave this special gift to them. They were being given a day off, not so they could just kick back and relax, do whatever they wanted, but so they could have the time to really contemplate Divinity without other distractions. A day just made for giving thoughts, prayers and gratitude to God.

And this idea of Sabbath was so important, it was put in the Commandments - number 4 - right up there near the top of the list. [You may know that Bible scholars, etc. tend to look at the list of Commandments in two parts - the first part (being either one through four or five, depending on how you want to look at the fifth commandment) being God-focused commandments (The "love the Lord with all your heart" portion) and the second part describing our relationship with others ("love thy neighbor as thyself").] Don't forget this special opportunity - "Remember the Sabbath day...."

My appreciation for this idea of a day of rest grew immensely that evening. What an incredible gift from a gracious, wonderful God! The meaning of it appeared as so much more than I'd ever realized before. Our gift as His loved children is freedom to have the time, opportunity, space to get to know Him, to think about Him and His creation, to express Her joy and goodness in our lives in ways that glorify Her. I think this feeling is reflected in this statement from Science and Health: "Citizens of the world, accept the "glorious liberty of the children of God," and be free! This is your divine right." (page 227)

So what is my take-away from this? Certainly a greater respect for the idea of Sabbath. And hopefully this respect will be demonstrated in my life in fuller use of the concept - not just in taking a particular day of the week to pray and give thanks. I'm thinking it can be much fuller than this. I'll be looking for more Sabbath moments in each day to be grateful for the freedom to experience the dominion that God has given all of Her loved children and to have the time to pause, at least in my thinking, and celebrate!

Dearest Daddy

This weekend I faced a first in my life - suicide. My brother's father-in-law committed suicide Saturday morning. I have never been so close to this type of situation. It was - is - truly devastating to his whole family, immediate and extended.

I didn't have the privilege of knowing him, Andy, very long. My brother and sister-in-law have only been married 5 1/2 years and I was living in another state for most of that time. So our contact was minimal - a few holidays here and there. Never really got any sort of 'tradition' established for the extended family. But knowing Andy was a privilege. And I know that he was - is - a great guy. He loves his family intensely. They are all so important to him. And, essentially, this is why he did what he did. Though I am also sure it is not the answer his dear wife, wonderful daughters and sons-in-law and sweet grandchildren would have picked to respond to the difficulties they seemed to be facing.

I think that this past Saturday will be one of those days that I'll always remember, even as sort of remote as the impact really is for me. My brother called late morning asking if I could come watch their kids. I could hear some quality in his voice so knew something wasn't right (and he's a police officer, so it kind of takes a lot any more to shake him up). He blurted out the basics of what happened and so my husband and I scooted out the door and drove to their home as fast as we could. It ended up being a long day with the kids - almost 3 and almost 2 respectively, - midnight before we got home. I am so grateful I could be of some help to my brother and sister-in-law in the immediate aftermath. And it was a good way to spend the day - plenty of opportunity to pray for all concerned - Andy, his family, all individuals who feel they are in such a desparate situation that they contemplate this act - while we did puzzles, played games and read books. That helped me immensely and I feel confident that it is helping everyone in some way, too.

I still have much more praying I need to do about all of this, I am sure. One thing I've noticed over the years, though, every time your life is touched by death in some way - the passing of a loved one or whatever - the issues are unique. It is not always, at least for me, about praying about what life really is or means. There are other new ideas that need to be learned and understood. So I know there are more lessons here.

Okay, so, this blog post is supposed to be related to Bible study. How is that fitting in here? Well, Sunday was kind of a long day as well - mostly filled with waiting. Waiting to see if or how we could help further. By the end of the day, I was pretty tired, so I climbed into bed with my weekly Bible study guide. (I use the Christian Science Weekly Bible Lessons as one of my Bible study tools.) The lesson topic for this week is "Are Sin, Disease and Death Real?" Wow, how appropriate! I was very grateful for this - knowing that I'd find some answers to help me think through the previous day's events.

After I read it, I put the booklet aside and laid down. I was suddenly and totally overwhelmed with tears. I just felt this agony for Andy's four precious grandchildren - the youngest about 9 months and the oldest almost 3. I knew that, in one way, they are so protected by the ages they are at right now. They aren't experiencing the drama of the situation. They'll get to be untouched by the immediate impact of it all. But I still ached for them in that they wouldn't have this wonderful grandfather to grow up with (and my brother's two will not have any grandfather as our father passed on 12 years ago). That is, or at least can be, such a special relationship! And, having seen Andy with these children, you couldn't miss how much he cherished each of them. Oh, how overwhelmingly sad it felt to think of these dear ones not having that love and lavish attention from their grandpa!

As I lay there crying and calling out to God from some help, the words "Abba, Father" came into my thought. [These words are used a three times in the New Testament. Their use in Paul's Epistle to the Romans 8:15 was part of this week's Bible lesson, that I had just finished reading.] Abba is a term that essentially means Daddy. In this part tof Paul's letter, he is talking about our sonship with God, and our right and privilege, by adoption into His family, to call Him Daddy. The tenderness of that word, the closeness it evokes, is really wonderful and warming. As I thought about these words in relation to Andy's grandchildren, I realized that all the love and tenderness Andy expressed to them had its source in God in the first place, and those kids are never going to lose the love God envelopes them with! They'll still be loved, cherished, cared for, lavished with attention - just what our dear Daddy does for all of us - it will all just be coming from other people in their lives (grandmothers, aunts and uncles, etc.). They can't miss out on good - no one really can.

These ideas brought me such comfort. The tears soon stopped and I just felt so grateful for God's care and all of his wonderful ideas. Since then, I have not felt an inkling of that distress and continue to love and cherish those children and that whole sweet family in my thought (as if I wasn't any way, just seems like this needs to be turned up a few notches right now!). They can all continue to feel the love their human father and their divine Father expresses toward them. (I know I'll be listening for ways to help them feel it!) And they all will certainly keep the memory of Andy alive for each other over the years. Thank you dearest Daddy, Father!

• Here's a thought from Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy that reflects this thought: Page 332:4-5
  
  "Father-Mother is the name for Deity, which indicates His tender relationship to His spiritual creation."