Healthy and safe in any weather
I WAS talking to a friend of mine in another city. Somehow the conversation turned to the weather. It was a rather typical winter day where he was. But for several days in my area, all cold-weather temperature records had been broken by wide margins. One day a local weatherman had made quite a big issue of the fact that the ''windchill factor'' had gone very far below zero. I told my friend about this and made several descriptive comments about the severity of the weather and its possible danger, and how we were surviving it.
Later I felt foolish and unalert for ruminating over the weather, because as a Christian Scientist I am learning that I need not be impressed with the notion that the weather, or any other circumstance, can harm us. Christian Science doesn't teach us to ignore weather reports, or not think about the weather or other concerns. Rather, it teaches us to think rightly about them.
Christ Jesus said to his followers, ''Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'' 1 Jesus proved through his healing works the absolute spiritual truth of God's perfection and goodness, and the consequent perfection and goodness of God's universe, including man. To think rightly in spiritual terms is to know the absolute truth-to know that spiritual perfection is the reality of creation and that the opposite of truth, inharmony of whatever kind, has no genuine, God-derived power.
n1 John 8:32.
How does this spiritual perspective relate to the weather, which is usually thought of as being capricious and beyond our control? By recognizing the spiritual nature of the universe and God's control over it, we can experience the protection afforded by spiritual law. Man is under the government of universal divine Principle, God. He is not at the mercy of material elements.
The Bible gives us precedents for the effective use of prayer during weather emergencies. One of the most familiar is the account of Christ Jesus stilling the storm that threatened to capsize the boat in which he and his disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee.2 It is legitimate and effective to turn to God in prayer for protection from adverse weather. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, points out: ''Moral and spiritual might belong to Spirit, who holds the 'wind in His fists;' and this teaching accords with Science and harmony.In Science, you can have no power opposed to God, and the physical senses must give up their false testimony.'' 3
n2 See Mark 4:35-41.
n3 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 192.
When we pray, we can realize that there is no power opposed to God, good. We need not pray for certain kinds of weather, or for the weather to change. We only need to know, with conviction, that there is no evil or destructive power in God's universe.
To label fire, flood, storms, and so forth ''acts of God'' is a gross misconception. Divine Love could never express itself in any way that would harm its own creation. In our prayers we certainly do not need to beg God to spare us from His wrath. There is no wrath in divine Love.
Although we should be wise in following warnings about travel, appropriate dress, and so forth during severe weather situations, we needn't be afraid of experiencing bad effects from the weather. Regardless of appearances and predictions, we can recognize and trust divine control. This might be especially helpful when we read of or hear reports about weather emergencies in any area of the world. Unselfish, steadfast acknowledgment of God's perfect protective care is an effective prayer. DAILY BIBLE VERSE He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust....He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shall thou trust. Psalms 91:1,2,4
