From the Victoria Times Colonist, Saturday September 30 2006
RELIGION
A 19TH- Century journey gives bloom to a renewed faith in God
By Anna Bowness-Park
In these modern times it seems as if the many concerns of our world are frightening, and our ability to do something about it seems hopeless. Threats of terrorism, global warming, epidemics, climatic disasters, not to mention the many personal tragedies and challenges that we all face have made nurturing a spiritual faith a focused goal of my everyday life. Yet the journey to a firm spiritual faith in God was by no means an easy journey for me, and still remains a challenge at times when things get difficult.
I was raised with a deep and abiding love for the Bible in a Christian school; yet there were parts of the Bible that I found confusing, particularly the idea of a God that sent punishment. It was not until I read a book on spirituality and health that the messages of the Bible became clear to me, and prayer became a practical answer to my everyday problems.
Written by Mary Baker Eddy, a forward-thinking 19th century woman, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures discusses Eddy’s discovery of Christian Science – a Bible-based system of healing through prayer focusing on the life of Christ Jesus and his disciples. The ideas in Eddy’s book have really helped me to understand the inseparable relationship between God and man, the divine laws that govern this relationship, and the type of prayer that transforms and heals. And she proved the validity of her discovery through experiencing healing herself as well as by healing others.
Eddy’s spiritual journey inspired and encouraged me to make my journey, and introduced me to the concept of a loving Father-Mother God who is the answer to, not the cause of problems. This compassionate God does not send punishment and grief to teach hard lessons, but rather is a constant source of healing ideas and laws that lift and inspire humanity out of sin, illness, hatred, greed and grief. He is not an abusive parent who sends us to the basement for an eternal time-out with no remission. I could not conceive of trusting a God I was afraid of. Each time I face a challenge, or hear in the media about the challenges we all face in the world, I quietly turn to that divine Love who is our Father Mother and listen for ideas that heal.
This concept of a God that is pure love makes me think of the sun. It shines on all, regardless of skin color, ethnicity, human history or gender. For me this became a healing concept because it covers all mankind in every need, without partiality.
“God is Love”, writes John. Mary Baker Eddy echoes this when she writes “Love is impartial and universal in it’s adaptation and bestowals. It is the open fount which cries “ho everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.” Each time I have focused on this concept of impartial, divine Love, ideas have flowed that have inspired me and given me ideas on how to pray. I have often been healed of anger, resentment, feelings of burden and responsibility, and particularly feeling a victim of circumstances. I have been healed of physical problems too.
One evening just as we were due to go out to a family event I started to feel very ill. It was sudden and severe. Immediately I turned my thoughts to prayer. A verse from one of Mary Baker Eddy’s poems came to me. “His arm encircles me, and mine and all” As I thought about that I really felt embraced spiritually. The symptoms persisted for a while but I knew that I had felt something bigger and more wonderful and important than the pain. The thoughts I was entertaining about my inseparable relationship to God and His law of harmony took precedence over the feelings of illness. Before we even arrived at our destination, all sense of illness had vanished.
One thing that has really helped my faith in God to blossom has been what I call my treasure box. I keep all the healings and inspired moments when I have felt the presence of God safely in my thoughts. I think about these frequently. I cultivate and grow with these ideas so that when difficulties arise I can go to my treasure box, remember those moments and then feel confident again, knowing that prayer is the most practical solution to whatever problem I may be facing.
Mary Baker Eddy begins her book with a reassuring statement for all readers “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, today is big with blessings”. Thinking of today as not big with problems, or full of stress, not a day we just have to get through to survive, but “big with blessings” has provided a firm anchor for our family and is the basis for my spiritual growth.
To grow in a faith that leads to new found spiritual understanding, that embraces everyone in a love divine, and that encourages an active prayer practice is certainly groundbreaking. My study of Christian Science has supported a most wonderful journey of spiritual discovery that will last a lifetime and beyond.