Living in the healing present
Many are searching for a sense of peace in what can be described as being present or “in the moment.” This is generally seen as a mindful moment of self-awareness, which can temporarily lift the weight of the past and anxiety about the future.
Yet there’s a way to be present that goes deeper than becoming conscious of our own thoughts, a spiritual approach that can establish health and well-being. The healing present is the place in consciousness where we become aware of divine Love, God, and our God-created identity and wholeness.
We can find the healing present through prayer. Prayer is that affirmation of truth that stills the racings of human thought and opens the door of consciousness to hear what God is communicating about what divine Love is and what we are. Through prayer, we feel the presence of Spirit and the power of Love, inviting healing.
In Scripture, we find the teaching, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). The message of the psalmist extends beyond the activity of the human mind. It points to the healing presence and influence of God, divine Mind. Beyond the mental state of personal mindfulness is the spiritual place of Mind-fullness, with a capital “M.”
There, we find an awareness of the allness of the divine Mind and of ourselves as the expression of Mind. Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, wrote, “The perfect Mind sends forth perfection, for God is Mind” (“Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p. 239). Capital “M” Mind-fullness heals.
I experienced the healing nature of this Mind-fullness recently. I was feeling sick, and the discomfort made it hard to engage in the day’s activities. I stayed home for the day, not able to get things done, and felt stressed about mounting responsibilities. Despite the frustration, I spent much of the day resting in prayer and listening specifically for what Mind was revealing about God’s nature, and about me as God’s completely spiritual child.
What I was seeking in prayer was to become conscious of my identity as God’s creation in the present. I wasn’t going to wait for time or any other material factor to bring relief. Rather, I recognized spiritual wholeness as a constant. When I did, what came in prayer was simply, “Go play soccer with the puppy.”
I asked God if this was really a message from divine Mind, because going and playing soccer sounded impossible to me at the time. The answer that came immediately was, “Yes, go play soccer with the puppy.” Trusting God’s guidance, I headed to the lawn where the puppy was waiting. In walking those 50 feet, I felt all the pain, discomfort, and anxiety dissolve.
It was a sacred moment. I was free to play with the puppy, enjoy dinner with the family, and prepare for the next day’s responsibilities, stress-free. Mrs. Eddy referred to this kind of experience in Science and Health when she wrote, “Become conscious for a single moment that Life and intelligence are purely spiritual, – neither in nor of matter, – and the body will then utter no complaints” (p. 14).
Each moment of every day God’s healing power is present – the space in which each of us can breathe in deeply just what we need from divine Love and find freedom that endures. In any moment, we can celebrate with the psalmist, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (118:24).
