"The music of the spheres"

May 5, 1981

During a recent holiday period my wife and I had several of our close relatives stay with us for a few days. As the time for this visit approached, I began to have mixed feelings. While I looked forward to our time together, I must admit to having had some apprehension as well. The fact that there would be 13 people under one roof, including four youngsters ranging in age from one to five, presented logistic problems and the potential for much noise and confusion. In addition there would be two dogs, two cats, and two birds. At least the birds would be in their cages!

On the surface it certainly appeared that this entourage had all the ingredients necessary for pandemonium.

Because the visit meant a great deal to all members of the family, I felt I very much needed a clearer perception of God's unchanging law of harmony and order. I recalled a story in the Bible where Pharaoh summoned Joseph to interpret a troubling dream. Joseph informed the Pharaoh, "God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." n1 Feeling I needed such "an answer of peace," I turned to God and prayed for a clearer understanding of His law of harmony. As i relinquished the apprehension and listened, a statement from Science and Health with Key to the Scripturesm came to me. I knew it was my answer. "'Let there be light,'" writes Mary Baker Eddy, n2 "is the perpetual demand of Truth and Love, changing chaos into order and discord into the music of the spheres." n3 I saw in that moment that the chaos I feared was contrary to God's "perpetual demand." Held under the control of His law, this visit could not be chaotic. Instead of confusion I could expect to hear "the music of the spheres."

n1 Genesis 41:16;

n2 Mrs. Eddy is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science;

n3 Science and Health,m p. 255.

Needless to say, the visit was marvelous. While noise and activity abounded, these were to me like "the music of the spheres." Sleeping, eating, and bathing arrangements were handled smoothly and to everyone's satisfaction. Even the pets were well behaved.

In thinking about the experience later I realized that a Biblical promise given in Isaiah had been proved. The prophet states, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." n4

n4 Isaiah 26:3;

I also saw that any situation reflects thought. Therefore to the degree that one's thought -- and life -- are shaped by the knowledge of God's perfect nature and creation, the situations in which one finds himself will come under divine control. Mrs. Eddy puts it this way in Science and Health:m "Music is the rhythm of head and heart. Mortal mind is the harp of many strings, discoursing either discord or harmony according as the hand, which sweeps over it, is human or divine." n5

n5 Science and Health,m p. 213.

Surely we all can hear "the music of the spheres" if we will let the divine hand sweep over our thought. This experience reinforced my conviction that the understanding of God as ever-present divine Principle, Love, can bring harmony to troubled circumtances. DAILY BIBLE VERSE Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. . . . Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing p raise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. Psalms 30: 4, 10-12