Weather is not my god

It has become so commonplace in social situations to talk about the weather as an ice breaker or as a way to change the topic when someone feels uncomfortable or doesn’t know what to say.

Thoughts about weather can be subtle mental whispers, such as “I’m too hot” (or too cold). Or they can become loud “voices” in the physical form of floods, hurricanes, or tornados. How we think about weather can sharply affect our experiences. Are we letting weather dictate what we say, what we do, or even how we feel? I’ve found it important to ask myself, “Have I let weather become a personal god?”

In the Bible we learn about Elijah’s experience when “the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” (I Kings 19:11, 12). I have come to understand that listening for God’s “still small voice” – thoughts from God – silences any voice that may be shouting about the weather and the suffering it may cause.

At one point, on one of those hot summer days where heat-index warnings were being broadcast, I was helping my husband with a project and doing some manual labor outside. Before I knew it, I had aggressive symptoms of being overheated.

I usually make a concerted effort to filter limiting human thoughts from divine thoughts, or Truth. I’ve learned in Christian Science that thoughts that do not represent Truth must be corrected, not ignored. In this case, I had heard the “loud voice” of the warnings that were being broadcast on the news, but I had not corrected in my own thought the notion that I or anyone could be negatively affected by the weather.

The discoverer of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, writes, “Suffering is the supposition of another intelligence than God; a belief in self-existent evil, opposed to good; and in whatever seems to punish man for doing good, – by saying he has overworked, suffered from inclement weather, or violated a law of matter in doing good, therefore he must suffer for it” (“Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896,” p. 198). There is only one Mind, one God, in whom is all intelligence, all wisdom, and all action. This Mind could never create an intelligence apart from itself that could cause suffering.

I have learned that God is the source of all good. Created in God’s image and likeness (see Genesis 1:26, 27), we are entirely spiritual and reflect the good God bestows. We cannot recreate that which God has already created, nor can we destroy or damage what God has bestowed. Therefore nothing, including weather, can alter this divine goodness.

What we can do is express the good that flows constantly in our lives like uninterrupted light passing through a windowpane. This is a joyous task, and we can go about our work feeling love and harmony. When we understand that our source of strength is God, we cannot lack the strength we need to do our work.

When I began to feel the symptoms of heat exhaustion, I naturally turned to God in prayer, and was led to ponder this verse from Job: “The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life” (33:4). How wonderful to think about everything that means, including that in my God-created, spiritual being I am pure, perfect, strong, and solid. I cannot be anything less than whole. God could never make me defective. My life, my very being, is the reflection of God.

Listening to the voice of God, I came to understand that I could reflect God’s goodness without suffering. I was quickly healed of all symptoms, and was able to continue working on the project with my husband, seeing it through to a successful conclusion.

It is important to pay attention to the thoughts that cross our path. How wonderful it is to know we have a choice and can actively listen to and follow God alone. Whether the day is hot, cold, sunny, or rainy, it’s a blessing to know we can hear God’s “still small voice” above it all and watch goodness unfold every day.

Adapted from an article published in the March 23, 2020, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.