No longer fascinated by extreme weather

I am fascinated by the power of nature. I love the raging waves of an Atlantic nor’easter or the stillness and freshness of a heavy New England snowfall. Nature is beautiful and inspires moments of awe-inspired love for what we experience. But recently, I realized that this fascination has an alter-ego that can be detrimental to prayer and healing.

One afternoon several years ago, I received a “ping” on my phone of breaking news about a hurricane bearing down on the southeast region of the United States. Although my state was not at risk, I wanted to pray for the people and property in its path. But soon I became transfixed by images of the storm and dire warnings. Instead of praying, I stared in awe at the impending weather and its predicted severity.

Interestingly, the thought came to me to look up the word “fascination.” I discovered its origin is associated with words such as “spellbound,” “allured,” or “attracted irresistibly.” The thought that visual images and news alerts could command my attention that strongly was eye-opening.

Christian Science teaches that God, good, is supreme, all-powerful, the only attraction, and the only Mind. And the Bible’s glorious declaration, “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (Revelation 19:6), is a powerful standpoint for disarming anything that would hold us spellbound and interfere with our desire and willingness to be a healer.

Christ Jesus, who was the greatest healer, demonstrated spiritual alertness. He wasn’t fooled or fascinated by the drama around him. The Bible recounts the story of a severe wind that arose on the Sea of Galilee, causing turbulence and high waves, while Jesus slept peacefully on the boat he and his disciples were on. The disciples, terrified of sinking, woke Jesus and cried, “Carest thou not that we perish?” But the account says that Jesus “arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:38, 39).

Jesus’ spiritual poise and mental resolve to bear witness to nothing but God’s presence and power overcame the aggressive display of a storm. His spiritual understanding cut through the fog of the disciples’ fear and frantic behavior in a dangerous gale. With a firm rebuke to the unrest, Jesus stilled the storm.

The Christ, the voice of good that animated all that Jesus said and did, still speaks to us in consciousness. Christ is here to guide and protect us today. In my situation, the prompt to pray about my fascination with the weather was evidence of the Christ disarming the pull toward the potential drama of the situation. I was able to affirm with a joyful heart that God, good, is in control, that God’s power prevails, and that God is the only cause and effect. We reflect the one divine Mind, and have an ability to resist the distracting lure of frightful images.

Many people prayed fervently about the storm that night, and good news arrived in the morning. There was no loss of life, only minor flooding, and little property damage. As news updates pinged my phone, I gratefully learned that the storm petered out throughout the day.

Our earnest desire to help our fellow man is a form of prayer. If there seems to be a pull away from this desire by a fascination with frightening images or dire predictions, we can trust God to provide the solution to dissolve this influence. Knowing “All is under the control of the one Mind, even God” (Mary Baker Eddy, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p. 544), we joyfully affirm that there are no chaotic forces, mesmeric attractions, dramatic events, or power to disable our prayers.

This verse from a hymn captures the spirit needed to rouse ourselves to spiritual alertness and defeat the foe, whether it be fascination or apathy, that would prevent us from praying for our world and our sisters and brothers:

Rouse ye, rouse ye, face the foe,
Rise to conquer death and sin;
On with Christ to victory go,
O side with God, and win!
(Maria Louise Baum, based on hymn by M. H. Tipton, “Christian Science Hymnal,” No. 296, © CSBD)