Always spiritually grounded
When we feel overwhelmed by what looks like an unstable world, where can we find a firm foundation, promising security, continuity, and support?
Such a foundation is spiritual, as described in “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science. She writes, “Spirit is the life, substance, and continuity of all things. We tread on forces. Withdraw them, and creation must collapse. Human knowledge calls them forces of matter; but divine Science declares that they belong wholly to divine Mind, are inherent in this Mind, and so restores them to their rightful home and classification” (p. 124).
Divine Mind, God, is the starting point to finding an enduring security and stability. Understanding the substance of Mind, we see that underlying the seeming vulnerability of whatever appears to be collapsing is the belief that matter is substance and that man is at the mercy of a failing material structure. Ultimately, then, what is really giving way is the belief in materialism itself; it is yielding to the spiritual truth that God is the structure and foundation of creation.
The belief of vulnerability to collapse may present itself in things such as volatile stock markets, earthquakes, failing governments, and declining health and integrity. But we can turn to God, who is Spirit, to discern the indestructible foundation and continuity of the universe. From this higher, healing viewpoint, we can see that this collapse shows the need for, and is a harbinger of, the spiritual and moral regeneration that comes through Christ.
At one time I had a relatively insignificant experience that nevertheless served to give me an insight into what upholds and supports every aspect of creation. I had a problem with ants building their tunnels underneath my patio. It had gone on for years and was weakening the foundation, making the pavers uneven and making walking on them precarious. I considered getting some pesticide to take care of the problem, but I had no desire to kill the ants.
In praying about this, I gained a clear spiritual conviction that I had a spiritual foundation, which nothing could undermine. Soon after that, the ants gathered in large masses on the patio. Once again I was tempted to use a pesticide, but instead continued praying to see that I – and everyone – had just the one spiritual foundation. By the next day there was no sign of the ants, nor has there been in the time since then.
Christ Jesus illustrated the idea of a firm spiritual foundation in a parable: “Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:24-27).
Wasn’t Jesus saying that those who heard and embraced his teachings – namely, that God, Truth, is the source and upholder of all that is good and permanent – would realize and enjoy the certainty of God upholding His creation? This parable reveals that we all have a solid spiritual foundation and are grounded and secure in the one divine Mind.
However, Jesus’ promise is conditional. It requires each of us to live Christly, Godlike qualities such as integrity and justice, which moment by moment anchor us and strengthen our understanding of the indestructible, God-bestowed foundation. Each spiritual quality gives stability to our endeavors, and in turn provides a more secure and dependable foundation in our life. Happiness becomes less fragile, hope less tentative, and mental ups and downs give way to equanimity.
Knowing that God, the one divine Mind, created His children to be sustained and supported by spiritual law quiets fear that something can be undermined or subjected to failure, whether it be physical, financial, or emotional. This understanding acts as a Truth-grounding anchor, which holds us in God’s love and which cannot be moved or destroyed.
We all have this God-supported, God-sustained spiritual understanding, grounding us on the rock of Christ, Truth. Here we find images of a world in perpetual collapse replaced by an unbroken continuity and consistency for humankind, all upheld in God’s love.
