The home you cannot lose
CNNmoney.com reported that foreclosures on home mortgages in the US soared to 405,000 in 2007. Sales are slow in many housing markets, and prices are down, making it difficult for borrowers to sell in order to repay mortgage debts.
Our homes are precious, and it is sad to think of people losing them. But one comforting thought is that "home" and "house" are not necessarily synonymous.
While some people may lose their houses in the crisis, the fact is that each of us has a spiritual nature that is our real home. It is strengthened and clarified as we draw closer to God and discover qualities such as joy, peace, compassion, and patience. It's a center of affection, sharing, and security. Whatever happens to a material home, we can't be deprived of what represents its true nature.
When despair about the loss of a home seems all too close, we can call upon divine Love's abiding, ever-present, and all-powerful care. God provides the needed strength and guidance, and all of us can feel this tender comfort now. We can take a mental inventory of the qualities of our home and then look for evidence of them in other parts of our lives. Recognizing that the qualities are still with us helps lift us out of sorrow and loss.
The Bible says, "In him [God], we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28). Here we are completely embraced and protected by infinite Love, with all its intelligence, wisdom, strength, and goodness. Recognizing this spiritual fact begins to lessen fear and to lead the way to permanent stability and safety.
Jesus understood this. At the beginning of his ministry, two men followed him. They were disciples of John the Baptist, who had just told them that Jesus was the "Lamb of God."
When Jesus asked them what they were seeking, they said, "Where dwellest thou?" The Bible's account continues, "He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day" (John 1:38, 39).
These men became his disciples. What was so compelling about Jesus' home that made others follow him? It probably wasn't an impressive material place. More likely, they were attracted by Jesus' certainty of his inseparability from the consciousness of Love, the kingdom of harmony, and understood that not only was this where he truly lived, but also that this spiritual consciousness is the true identity of each of us. Jesus came to tell others that this "home" is here and now for everyone. In this mental state, there is no debt, no loss of real value, no injustice, no ruined lives. The consciousness of Love can't be taken away.
Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of this newspaper, studied the Bible deeply. She once said, "The real house in which 'we live, and move, and have our being' is Spirit, God, the eternal harmony of infinite Soul. The enemy we confront would overthrow this sublime fortress, and it behooves us to defend our heritage" ("Pulpit and Press," p. 2).
The spiritual substance of home, "the eternal harmony of infinite Soul," comes equipped with the power of Mind, the resources of Soul, and the supply of Spirit – all of which we include as God's creation.
These resources work together with God's law of good to govern home. Divine law brings harmony that is untouched by housing market fluctuations. It's not dependent on persons, and it can't be taken away.
If there's a threat of losing a home, or the next home isn't in sight, there is hope right now. It is God's great joy to show each of us that we are inseparable from divine Love. As our consciousness of this love grows clearer, we find calmness and strength. Our willingness to hear and follow God's direction leads us to the right solution.
