Digging out

No matter how long or bitter the cold season, the heart warms when the first breeze sneaks past the watchdogs of winter to assure us that spring is on its way. A person can't help being happy when he sees the renewal of all growing things. Hope stirs in spite of the buffetings it may have taken.

Many people feel the buffetings of human life as though they were in the throes of a kind of spiritual winter. Materialism in many aspects dominates. An older generation sees its hard-earned retirement funds snowed under by inflation. And on a different level, moral values such as integrity and courtesy get shoveled aside for merely expedient solutions. The younger generation, though perhaps more resilient, is deluged by storms of impatience and discouragement in the effort to achieve its goals.

Given all these problems, is there hope for a springtime of spiritual and moral renewal for mankind? Of course! It begins with the teaching of Christ Jesus that "the kingdom of God is within you." n1

n1 Luke 17:21

Is this kingdom of God in matter or mind? It certainly isn't visible to any great extent in matter. And if it is in mind, what kind of mind -- human or divine? Paul said, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." n 2 And Christian Science shows that this Mind is God, the one divine Mind, infinite, intelligent Love creating man as its idea and holding him forever in harmony.

n2 Philippians 2:5

In this clear environment of unity with his creator, man knows no lack, no wintry blast of loss, no separation. Eternal good is as axiomatic as the sunrise.

This kingdom is omnipresent, and with mankind's increase in spirituality and morality will come the realization and proof of that fact. We'll learn that the one Mind forever supplies us with fresh spiritual thoughts, new insights. These invigorate our thinking and reveal ways to meet needs. As Mary Baker Eddy write , "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies." n3

n3 Miscellaneous Writings, p. 307

When someone has been struggling long with grief or despair, the words of Christ Jesus come to say, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." n4

n4 John 14:16

Many people have found divine Science, God's law of good, to be this promised Comforter. It was revealed to a heart long weary of the world's winter but deeply searching for God. This gentle, persistent follower of Christ Jesus was Mary Baker Eddy.

A devoted Christian from her earliest days, she felt deep within her that the answer to the great existential questions -- What is life? What is love? What is truth? -- were to be found in the Bible and in the life and teachings of Christ Jesus.

With her discovery of the Science of Christianity, she had the proof that mankind could know and understand God rather than just dimly hope and struggle to believe. Then she made her discovery available through her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,m and established a Church -- a Church that emphasizes the power of Truth to heal the body as well as to save sinners, and to accomplish this today, just as Jesus did in his time, in proportion to our understanding of Truth.

It ism possible to maintain a perpetual springtime of the heart through our love and understanding of God -- to see beyond government crises and personal upheavals, through physical disabilities and limited opportunities, to this ever-present kingdom of God within us.

In an article entitled "Voices of Spring," Mrs. Eddy says: "Human hope and faith should join in nature's grand harmony, and, if on minor key, make music in the heart. And man, more friendly, should call his race as gently to the springtide of Christ's dear love." n5

n5 Mis. p. 330

In this "springtide" are heartening answers to life's problems. DAILY BIBLE VERSE Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Isaiah 35:4