From the wreckage of a ship lost at sea one night, a young sailor managed to swim to a great rock jutting out from the ocean not too far away. In the morning he was able to swim from it to the shore.
Later he was asked, “Weren’t you trembling with fear out there on that rock all that night, with the winds howling and the waves crashing and foaming all around you?”
And the young man answered, “Yes, sir, I was, but the rock wasn’t! And I knew that as long as I clung to the rock, I was safe.”
Throughout the ages “rock” has been a symbol of strength and security. The Bible refers to it again and again. In a song of thanksgiving the Psalmist exults, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.”1
In the parable with which he closes his Sermon on the Mount, Christ Jesus tells us: “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.”2
In the Glossary of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy gives as the spiritual sense of this biblical image: “Rock. Spiritual foundation; Truth.”3 All through her writings runs the conviction of the presence and permanence of this spiritual foundation of eternal Truth, to which each of us can confidently and steadfastly cling, and upon which we can build enduring lives of love and service. The winds and waves of human experience, of pain and fear, of poverty and war, may beat and shock; but the rock, Truth, stands forever sure, our fortress and our strength.
Being steadfast is really a glory in itself. No condition, past, present, or future, can withstand Truth.
As we hold fast to Truth, as we love it and live it, we will find our consciousness of good enlarged, our days “big with blessings,” our steps safe and secure, our lives strong and beautiful. We will be steadfast.
To read the entire article “Be Steadfast” by Jeanne Roe Price find it here
Our little condo sold before we had found another place to live. While we were able to make temporary living arrangements and borrow a car, the resulting nomadic and uncertain lifestyle felt deeply unsettling to me. As there were no suitable homes in the city available in our price range, an air of hopelessness began to creep in. Discouraged and a bit frightened, I turned earnestly to God in prayer – something I’d found helpful many times before.
I spent hours carefully reading the Bible, pondering what I read, listening for the mental nudge of God’s direction, and acknowledging His loving care for my family and for everyone. These lines from a favorite hymn in the “Christian Science Hymnal brought me great comfort:
Home is the consciousness of good That holds us in its wide embrace; The steady light that comforts us In every path our footsteps trace.
(Rosemary C. Cobham, alt., No. 497)
If consciousness is the true expression of home, as the hymn says so beautifully, I saw that my role was to continue to listen for inspiration and trust God’s goodness, and keep that focus in my consciousness. If my thoughts were filled with qualities such as love and gratitude, I wouldn’t have enough mental space left for worry, which is a form of fear. I’ve found many times in my life that the active expression of love, gratitude, and other spiritual qualities results in transformation both of my mental outlook and of whatever experience I’m going through.
As we continued to pray with these ideas, we felt inspired to put in an offer on a particular home, even though we’d previously made an offer on it that had been rejected. This time, however, the offer was accepted and the sale terms were resolved within just a few days; a month later, we moved in. I was touched by how quickly all this happened and felt it was an affirmation of the power of prayer.
To read the full article from The Christian Science Monitor’s A Christian Science Perspectiveby Jennifer McLaughlin or to listen to it,click here
Listen to an example of resisting fearful thinking in this Daily Lift
“While a single news item can often feel a little scary, sometimes a series of events appear to point towards a “perfect storm.”…
“….The clear glimpse I had that predicting evil was actually forecasting a spiritual falsity woke me up, and impelled my prayer out of the starting blocks. I became increasingly conscious of the nature of God’s perfection and its expression in all of God’s creation, and as a result I began to see the future differently. The looming question mark hanging over me gave way to a calm confidence that nothing lay ahead except the spiritual experience of God’s goodness, and tangible solutions that would come to light as a result of that.”
You can read this contribution by Tony Lobl in it’s full version here
A Christian Science perspective: Praying for safety during stormy weather.
by Allison J. Rose-Sonnesyn
On a cross-country move several years ago, a friend and I were driving across South Dakota when a weather report announced that a massive supercell thunderstorm was right behind us, following our route to the hotel we booked part way across the state. The situation was quite serious, as tornadoes were expected to accompany the storm, and we were very exposed.
For a few moments, I felt afraid. But I have learned through my study of Christian Science that as children of God – which all of us are – we are never truly helpless. … Read more …
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. (The Bible – Proverbs 3: 23, 26)
I hear thy promise old and new, / That bids all fear to cease: / My presence still shall go with thee / And I will give thee peace. (Christian Science Hymnal No 136, Violet Hay)
Every Wednesday at 6.00 pm a Testimony Meeting is held at the Christian Science Church in Canberra. Each meeting begins with readings selected from the two books designated as the Pastor of Christian Science: The Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. A new topic for the readings is selected each week.
At the conclusion of the short readings the congregation is invited to share thoughts on this topic and relate how they have used the principles of Christian Science to solve life’s problems and bring physical healing.
If you are in Canberra on any Wednesday please join us. Everyone is welcome.
This recording represents the readings on the topic:Into the New Year – The Lord Shall Be Thy Confidence.
Diversity is a fact of life, thank goodness. No one would want to live in a world where every individual expressed herself or himself in exactly the same way as every other individual. Variety makes life interesting. It is also practical, for if everyone developed exactly the same talents and skills, many needed tasks would never get done, and much that enriches and inspires human experience would never be expressed.
People do tend, however, to feel more comfortable with the familiar than with the unfamiliar. The question is, How can you and I appreciate the diversity that exists in families, communities, and around the globe without in any way feeling threatened by the unfamiliar? … Read more …
Barbara Vining is a full-time Christian Science healer and teacher. Her article, Diversity Without Fear, was originally published in the Christian Science Sentinel. It is now available on JHS-online. In it she examines the source of fear associated with differences as well as the qualities that unite us.
Our little condo sold before we had found another place to live. While we were able to make temporary living arrangements and borrow a car, the resulting nomadic and uncertain lifestyle felt deeply unsettling to me. As there were no suitable homes in the city available in our price range, an air of hopelessness began to creep in. Discouraged and a bit frightened, I turned earnestly to God in prayer – something I’d found helpful many times before.
A Christian Science perspective: 
Into the New Year – The Lord Shall Be Thy Confidence 
by Barbara Vining