Immovable Love
A Christian Science perspective on daily life.
In a world where instability seems all too common, the Bible offers a powerful alternate view, one that's been tested through the years. The Psalmist – no stranger to change, tumult, and danger – pointed toward the solidity of spiritual ground when he sang: "Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Ps. 61:1, 2).
Later, Jesus defined that rock as the Christ, which Christian Science explains as the spiritual message of God's love for humanity. This love assures stability and safety during tough times. On this rock of understanding, we find peace and a place to recover from disaster – financial or "natural." It's also a launching pad for spiritual progress that leads to a greater realization that the divine Mind, God, has a loving purpose for everyone.
In her autobiography, "Retrospection and Introspection," Mary Baker Eddy wrote that this "Mind demonstrates omni-presence and omnipotence, but Mind revolves on a spiritual axis, and its power is displayed and its presence felt in eternal stillness and immovable Love" (pp. 88-89).
The world is awash in a false sense of what is omnipresent. News, weather, financial data, are available instantly across the globe and down the street – and while this has great value, we can't let it undermine our confidence in the rock, in our conviction that divine Mind is leading the world toward stability and peace.
To believe the voices of fear, confusion, discomfort, is to listen to false guides. Their messages trick us into concluding that instability and doubts about God's control of His universe are viable options. They're not. We can prove this by recognizing that life and being have never been in matter. There is only one axis on which our lives revolve, and that's the spiritual axis.
On this axis, eternal stillness and immovable Love hold sway. And that stillness is the peace and stability of omnipresence. Expressed as orderly progress, it brings to light solutions just when they're needed, answers to prayers, and an acceptance that good really is at the heart of the universe.
Does this sound too good to be true? It isn't. Again, "Mind revolves on a spiritual axis, and its power is displayed and its presence felt in eternal stillness and immovable Love." Love includes the quality of gentleness as well as omnipotence. Grasp the concept of "omnipotent gentleness," and it's easier to see that the stability humanity is seeking can never come about through bloodshed and dismay, but through the relentless, earth-changing force of divine Love.
Omnipotent gentleness may sound like a contradiction in terms. But consider the innocence of the baby Jesus in the Christmas story and Jesus' unparalleled courage and healing power. We realize its practicality as we accept its influence in our lives and pray for its power to be felt.
To do so ensures that we will prosper and do more good for humanity because our lives are built on the model Jesus followed. This model reveals anything opposed to immovable Love as powerless. Whether it takes form as people or nations, such opposition is a representation of the carnal mind, which St. Paul described as "enmity against God." Materialism, sensuality, fear, hatred, anger, may claim to be more powerful than God. But here is where Love always has the final word.
Love isn't just omnipotent; it is also omnipresent. So the carnal mind – no matter what form it takes – has no real place from which to operate or mount a resistance. We can accomplish much just by beginning to build our trust on the Christ. From this immovable rock, we will fearlessly discern our God-given authority over materiality. Then, even if the winds and waves beat hard against us, we will stand safely on solid ground.