A blessing shared

Have you ever tried to turn adversity into a blessing? It can be done. At one time I found myself living in a new area, and with a house to sell. I took the usual steps and put the sale in the hands of a Realtor, and then expectantly waited for results. Although people came to view the house, and some were eager to buy, it was at a time when mortgages were very hard to obtain, and those people who wanted to buy were unable to secure the necessary loan.

Several weeks elapsed, but still my house stood empty. By this time winter was approaching, so it was necessary to make frequent visits to the house to ensure that all was well, and then, of course, I had to keep it heated. The Realtor's prediction was that until the availability of loans improved I had little or no chance of selling.

During this time I prayed. All through my life I have witnessed the power of prayer, not only in the healing of sickness and distress but also in the solving of seemingly difficult problems. When we turn to God, divine Love, and are willing to trust our lives and the outcome of any situation to His care and infinite wisdom, things do work out very satisfactorily. That's because in turning to God we bring ourselves and our affairs into accord with the only law there really is, the law of infinite Love, and this supersedes any other so-called law.

One Bible verse I found a constant comfort at this time was ''The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.'' n1 I clung to this powerful statement, knowing that my Father-Mother God alone was governing. Christ Jesus has told us, ''Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.'' n2 It's God's pleasure to give us unending good. In fact, the spiritual reality of being is that right now, and forever, man is the recipient of God's goodness, inseparable from Him.

n1 Psalms 138:8.

n2 Luke 12:32.

While shopping one day, I was pondering the situation, feeling rather unhappy at the impasse, and wondering why my house was still unsold. Suddenly, I found myself praying humbly and fervently, ''Oh, Father, just let the house be a blessing for somebody.'' With this I felt as if a load had dropped from my shoulders and that all would be well.

When I arrived back at work, I was told that my Realtor's office had been trying to reach me because a young couple was anxious to view the house. The man in the Realtor's office who would normally have dealt with this on my behalf was out of town, and I was asked if I could immediately go up to the house myself to meet the young couple. This I did, and within a very short time I was showing them around.

They were delighted with it, and the location was perfect for them. The husband had gotten a new job in the area, and they wanted to buy a house within easy reach of his work. My house was a seven-minute drive away. The couple had been promised the necessary mortgage loan, and as there was no circumstance to hold up the sale, it went through quickly and harmoniously.

I thanked God with all my heart for the lesson I had learned, because it was only when I could get my own wishes into the background and pray unselfishly, that the whole situation was resolved.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, tells us in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, ''Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need.'' n3 There is no reservation there. And our willingness to reflect divine Love in thought and deed will help us more readily realize Love's certain care.

n3 Science and Health, p.494.

A hymn says, ''. . .understanding prayer is fully answered,/When trustingly we turn to God aright.'' n4 The lesson I learned was that an adverse circumstance can be turned into a blessing for all concerned when we pray in the right way and are willing that others share the blessing.

n4 Christian Science Hymnal, No. 149.

DAILY BIBLE VERSE Now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality. II Corinthians 8:14