Expanding our concept of home

Home is so much more than a physical structure. In a very real sense, all of us live in a mental domicile; our thoughts and attitudes determine our environment. As we become increasingly aware of the Biblical truth that God is totally good; that we are His children, cared for and supplied directly by our Maker, divine Love, our concept of home becomes more expansive and spiritual.

''Enlarge the place of thy tent,'' the prophet commands, ''and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.'' n1

n1 Isaiah 54:2.

Our family found out the immense practicality of a spiritual sense of this mandate. At a period of economic recession, when the real estate market was at its lowest ebb in years, we were going to move to a city many miles away. We had gone there, found a lovely place to live, and put a deposit on it with the promise to produce the remainder of the down payment within thirty days.

Before we left on our trip, the home we were living in had been put up for sale with a respected real estate agent - below its appraised value. But it didn't sell.

It was essential that we have the equity from our old place in order to close the deal on our new house. When our real estate agent's option ran out, we decided to try to sell the house ourselves.

Consistently we had prayed for guidance, realizing that the manifestations of God represented by this home - shelter, safety, beauty, supply - are always in demand and not subject to economic lows and highs. In divine reality, God is their source and strength, and God blesses infinitely, one and all.

We decided that instead of brooding over the human picture we would continue to uplift our concept of where we dwell, perceiving the good that was around us and denying the suggestion that this good could come to an end.

Pointedly Christ Jesus said, ''In my Father's house are many mansions,'' adding, ''I go to prepare a place for you.'' n2 To us, this was saying that within the consciousness of God's allness and goodness are limitless, individualized expressions of home.

n2 John 14:2.

Shortly the bleak picture changed completely. There was not only one party interested in our house - there were five prospective buyers.

A man with several children loved our house and wanted it urgently, but he could not produce a down payment until after the closing date on our new property. Yet it seemed right that he should have the house.

At this point we turned to this remarkable statement by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science: ''In the scientific relation of God to man, we find that whatever blesses one blesses all, as Jesus showed with the loaves and the fishes, - Spirit, not matter, being the source of supply.'' n3

n3 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 206.

If this transaction would meet the needs of one, it simply had to bless all.

With the realization of these truths came the solution. In a telephone conversation with an acquaintance I was asked about our forthcoming move. When I mentioned something about our needs she said, ''I have more than the amount you need. I'll make you out a check for your down payment, and you can pay me back when your escrow closes.'' This was done and the transaction was completed.

God blesses all, infinitely, impartially. As further proof of this, when I gave our benefactor her check, she used it to help another man avoid losing his home.

The teachings of Christianity are practical, effective; and putting them into practice releases a dynamic power to bless mankind. These teachings point us to a higher sense of home that springs from a spiritual understanding of God and man.

A member of Mrs. Eddy's household recalled that she had said: ''Home is not a place but a power. We find home when we arrive at the full understanding of God.'' n4

n4 Irving C. Tomlinson, Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1966), p. 156.

DAILY BIBLE VERSE Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding is it established Proverbs 24:3

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