One Size Fits All

Normally, that’s not really true.  Certainly when it comes to things, it’s not true.  My husband and I can’t wear the same clothes.  The house I grew up in would have been too small for his family.  The bag of fertilizer I put on my lawn will not cover even a fraction of the golf course around the corner.

But it is true when it comes to Love – another name for God.  God’s Love is large enough and full enough and safe enough and sure enough for everyone.  No matter what.  And there’s always enough to go around, every time.  This is not just hopefulness, this is an actual law.  A law Jesus used to feed multitudes, heal the sick, and raise the dead.  It never failed Jesus!

A great explanation is found in Science and Health.  The author, Mary Baker Eddy, writes: “The depth, breadth, height, might, majesty, and glory of infinite Love fill all space. That is enough!”  (see page 520)

Think about it.  Which dimension is left out of that statement?  Which need is uncovered?  As the Psalmist asks, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” (see Ps. 139)

God is ever present.  Love is omnipotent.  Spirit is all-knowing and all acting.  Truly, that is enough!  It will never fail you either.

Melissa Hayden is a Christian Science practitioner in Salem, OR. You can find more information and additional articles at this link.  If you like what you’re reading, click the “add me” button.

Offences vs. stumbles

There’s a wonderful passage in Psalms (see 119:165): “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”  At least that’s how the King James Version puts it.  The New King James Version states it just a little differently: “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.”

I love how it shifts the viewpoint.  The first one seems to indicate a state of serenity where, regardless of what’s going on around you, you will remain unflappable.

The second one points to a more active – albeit peaceful – contact with the world, moving through it, obstacle free.

The first one seems to talk about the quality of thought that doesn’t react to the mistakes (offences) being made by others.  The second one is also a quality of thought, but it is directed at preventing our own mistakes (stumbles).

Both attitudes are useful and both are based on the straightforward and simple premise of loving God’s law.  That holy viewpoint brings about the necessary peace that simply lifts us above the stumbling blocks and out of harm’s way.

Either way, it’s good advice.

Melissa Hayden is a Christian Science practitioner in Salem, OR. You can find more information and additional articles at this link.  If you like what you’re reading, click the “add me” button.

What would you give up?

In the book of Mark, chapter 10, is told the story of a man who asks Jesus how to have eternal life.  Jesus’ directive to follow the Commandments meets with the affirmation that he has always done so.  The narrative then says that “Jesus beholding him loved him.”  He said to the man, sell all your stuff, give the money to the poor, and follow me.  That didn’t sit well with the fellow (because he was very attached to his stuff) and he walked away.

What if the woman of widow’s mite fame (see Mark 12: 41-44) had come and asked Jesus the same question?  Surely he would not have asked her to sell all that she had and give it to the poor.  No, beholding her and loving her, he would have discerned what one thing she was clinging to that separated her from embracing eternal life.  Maybe he would have told her to let the dead bury their dead.  (see Luke 9:60)

And what about the Centurion?  Would Jesus have asked him to sell everything?  Probably not, but – beholding him and loving him – he might have asked him to worship only one God.  He was a Roman and had many gods.  (see Matt 4:10)

What are you holding onto that is so dear that you wouldn’t give it up even for eternal life?  We make the mistake of thinking that the very thing we are cherishing IS our life.  We ask ourselves, who would we be if we didn’t have that thing or activity or viewpoint? Yet anything that keeps us from loving God with all our hearts, minds, and souls is not life – it’s limitation.  Because it keeps our attention on ourselves.

God, divine Love, doesn’t ever ask us to give up our actual life for Him, just a false sense of life. Beholding you and loving you He gives you everything.  He just asks that you put Him first.

What would you be willing to give up to have everything?

Melissa Hayden is a Christian Science practitioner in Salem, OR. You can find more information and additional articles at this link.  If you like what you’re reading, click the “add me” button.