Watch one hour

When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane awaiting Judas and the temple soldiers, he asked his disciples to pray with him.  He was struggling with what looked like an inglorious end to his ministry.  Finding his disciples asleep instead of praying, he asked them, “what, could ye not watch with me one hour?”  But he trusted the care of his Heavenly Father, who ultimately turned that situation around, bringing infinite good to you and me.  You can read the whole story in Matthew 26.

The same invitation is extended to us.  We have an opportunity to watch in prayer for those around us.  Your prayerful clarity may be just what your neighbor needs.  Your deeply spiritual consecration could be the healing solution to lift someone out of suffering.  Your commitment to love unselfishly might be all that’s needed to inspire progress.  Your heartfelt and humble blessing will dissolve fear and open the way.

It’s only an hour.

Let’s do this for each other.

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.

Whether is easier?

It was so crowded, they couldn’t fit anyone else into the room.  Even the doorway was blocked.  The space was filled with the curious, the skeptics, and those hungry for the startling but healing words of this itinerant preacher.  He was telling them things that were both fresh and familiar about God and life and hope.

All of a sudden there was a great crashing noise as the roof was torn off.  Four men began to lower the cot of their friend who was terribly ill with palsy.  The preacher didn’t chastise them or cringe or even flee.  He gently but firmly said to the sick man, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”  There was an audible gasp from the group gathered there.  Some even imagined the comment to be blasphemous.  Others were simply waiting to see how this unusual man would explain his comment.

Jesus, for that’s who the preacher was, discerned at once the discomfort his bold statement stirred in the hearts of his listeners.  How would he justify such audacity?  He began by asking a question: whether is easier?  No one said anything.

So he gave them two options.  Is it easier to say “your sins are forgiven” or is it easier to say “stand up and walk.”  By now, everyone in the room was on the edge of his seat wondering how this would play out.  They knew that the one option of forgiving sins was God’s realm alone.  They also knew that the other option of expecting a sick man to get up was absolutely ridiculous.  Was this preacher crazy, or worse?

Then Jesus explained that both options were easy for the Son of Man.  He asked the man to rise, pick up his cot, and go home.  And he did so, easily.  The Bible reports that ALL were amazed.  Even the skeptics.  (see Mark 2:1-12)

Let us not forget the lesson of this story.  Healing sin and sickness is equally easy to the Christ.  Freedom from sin and sickness is equally easy to mankind.  Both are possible here and now.  Easily.

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.

Abundant good, always

I attended a non-profit fundraiser last night.  The presentation was good, the mission sound, and the need real.  I was inspired to donate, and prepared to volunteer.  I was ready to “make it happen.”  Then it occurred to me – the disciples query of Jesus – what is this among so many?  This question they asked upon seeing only 5 loaves and two fishes, and at least 5000 hungry followers.

Good question then and now.  It seems that limited resources, limited helping hands, limited time all bear out in limited assistance for a need that seems unlimited.  But Jesus didn’t see it that way.  In fact he said up front “thank you God.”  (see John 6:5 – 13)  Thank you that good isn’t limited.  Thank you for always taking care of your beloved children.  Thank you for making your purpose and power known to me and these.  Thank you for proving that all things are possible to You.  And then he fed that multitude, and even had leftovers.

What is the lesson for me? That perhaps it’s not so much the money I give to this non-profit, or the time I put in, or even the word I spread (and those all are definitely worthy and important).  It’s the gratitude I give for the abundant good already flowing in all directions from God Himself.

Mary Baker Eddy, 19th century theologian, wrote in Science and Health “It is not well to imagine that Jesus demonstrated the divine power to heal only for a select number or for a limited period of time, since to all mankind and in every hour, divine Love supplies all good.”  (see page 494:11)  She adds this profound statement: “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need.”

To be clear, it’s not that my hands (or my dollars) aren’t useful in caring for my fellow man.  It’s just that my hands, or even many hands are not the sole solution.  To the extent that I recognize that God is both the power and the resource behind my hands – and my prayers – is what I do effective and worthwhile.

As the Psalmist says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  (46:1)  That is always true.  There are no exceptions.

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.

Blind Spots

We can see them in others – but seem to be pretty oblivious to them in ourselves.  Hence the name.  To imagine that we’re imune from their influence is pretty naive.  However, knowing that you have one, and knowing what it is, are two different things.

Jesus had a wonderful antidote for blind spots in the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew chapters 5 through 7).  For example, if we’re all worked up about something someone else has done, we’ll probably find the same characteristic in ourselves. Gasp! The Master by way of a question explains it this way: “why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”

Or if we’re being generous with strangers but stingy with those we know – regardless of whether it’s justified or not, Jesus has this to say: “first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

Or if we know how everyone else should eat or dress, and we’re totally preoccupied with it ourselves, we’re told to “take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.”  Oops.

The most precious answer, perhaps the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, and the absolute solution for uncovering every blind spot, is The Lord’s Prayer.  Yep.  Importunately pondering each phrase, looking inward to see if it meets with agreement, and then living sincerely with its message is a guarantee of dissolving our blind spots.  And helping us to dissolve the blind spots of others as well, gracefully.

That’s a good thing.

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.

Words can heal

Six reasons why kind, encouraging words are your best asset, taken from Wordscanheal.org:

1.The power to speak healing words is available to you at all times, in all places, under all circumstances. Healing words are lighter than a laptop, more portable than a credit card. They can never be lost, stolen, or left at home.

2.Healing words cost you nothing. No matter how financially strapped you are, you can give lavishly with encouraging words.

3.Speaking kind words is a win-win situation. Both the speaker and the one spoken to, walk away feeling great.

4.Healing words can calm better than a tranquilizer, with no adverse side effects. However, they are habit forming. (thank goodness!)

5.Encouraging words are a non-depletable resource. No matter how many you use, you always have an unlimited supply.

6.Encouraging words yield high returns. You spend a small amount of energy and time, and the effect on the person spoken to can last for years-or even change a life.

WordsCanHeal.org

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.