God’s ordered universe
Reports of extreme weather, war, the pandemic, and economic instability can make it feel as though we live in a chaotic universe where we have little agency over our own lives.
As someone who has found mental peace and practical answers through prayer, I wanted to pray to see beyond this depressing view of life to something more hopeful, for myself and my family and for all citizens of the world. A moment of chaos on a recent trip gave me a modest but significant opportunity for such prayer.
My husband and I had enjoyed smooth and uneventful travels during the first part of our trip. But the return journey was looking complicated with two plane changes and possible long delays due to extreme weather. When I received a text from the airline saying that our first flight had been delayed, I knew this change would affect our whole trip home.
I tried to pray. But at first my thoughts were more panicky than prayerful, ricocheting between begging God for help and imagining all the scenarios that might unfold along our journey. Finally, I paused to calm myself and really listen for thoughts from God. I knew that His thoughts could never include fear and doubt, but only peace and clarity.
Two ideas came to me. The first was that throughout the Bible, God instructs people to “fear not.” I saw these instructions not just as nice, comforting words, but as commands. So if I wanted to be obedient to God, who I love, I could follow this loving command, and I would cease fretting. Suddenly, it seemed possible to do so.
Christian Science teaches that God is divine Mind. In “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy, we read: “Science reveals only one Mind, and this one shining by its own light and governing the universe, including man, in perfect harmony” (pp. 510-511). I could trust God, perfect Mind, to keep the universe – which certainly included all of my activities – moving in perfect harmony.
The second thought that gave traction to my prayers was that instead of asking God to help my husband and me thread our way through the chaos of extreme weather and disrupted flights, I could broaden my prayers to include everyone. I could pray for mankind – and even for the universe.
As I began to do that, the words of a hymn that I love came to me:
The heavens declare the glory
Of Him who made all things;
Each day repeats the story,
Each night its tribute brings.
To earth’s remotest border
His mighty power is known;
In beauty, grandeur, order,
His handiwork is shown.
(Frederic W. Root, “Christian Science Hymnal,” No. 329)
I realized that if I were really looking for “beauty, grandeur, order,” which I knew existed because God “made all things,” then I would see these qualities more clearly. Recognizing these spiritual qualities would help both me and my fellow passengers.
And that is exactly what happened. I started to see expressions of “His handiwork” everywhere I looked: the kindness and patience of flight attendants and airport personnel; the joyful antics of small children; the calm and ordered way people lined up; and the helpfulness of passengers assisting and smiling at one another. All of this despite the delays, disruptions, and heat of the day. I acknowledged these as evidence of divine Mind’s peaceful, ordered universe.
Yielding to Mind in this way helped me to discipline my thinking so that I could see God’s control in abundance. When it looked like my husband and I had little time to make our flight, airport workers and other travelers were calm and helpful, and we made it to our plane with moments to spare before the doors shut.
Certainly I was glad to arrive home on time, but I was much more grateful to have had a precious glimpse of God’s ordered universe. While my experience is a very modest example, it demonstrated to me that it is possible to witness this perfect order in our daily lives. We do not need to see ourselves or others as victims of circumstances beyond our control, but rather as included in God’s true universe of perfect peace.
