In Canberra the lengthy COVID restrictions are now being eased. Thank goodness! As we approach re-opening and a more normal way of living and interacting, it’s important that we make sure all we’ve been through in the last 18 months has not been in vain.
We can think of these months of social isolation in two ways – as an awful time that was so hard, so lonely and often scary, or, as a unique opportunity. Could anything else have given us the opportunity to stop the busyness of everyday life, be still, and re-evaluate how we’ve been living in this world and treating one another? That initial decision as to how we’re going to think about this time, is immensely important because it dictates the failure or success of our experience ahead.
The repercussions of the initial decisions we make was brought home to me in a very dramatic way. My husband and I and our two young girls were holidaying, staying in a country motel. It was the very darkest time of night, we were all deep asleep when the oldest girl, who normally slept very soundly, for no discernible reason, suddenly woke up. As we were settling her back down, we smelled smoke. My husband looked out and saw the bushes beside the building on fire. Being ex-army he jumped into action and began hosing down the flames, but then realised the underside of the building was also alight. That’s when he found the whole of the underneath of the motel, which was fully occupied, was also on fire, and the rooms were starting to fill with smoke. We roused everyone and soon the fire was being put out. When the police arrived, they said it was an act of deliberate arson and five minutes more the floors would have collapsed into the flames.
Fear was starting to govern everyone’s thinking as they realised that through the evil actions of others, they had all nearly been killed in their sleep. It was at that point I realised we had a decision to make. There was another way of looking at the situation. It was that, even in the middle of the night when we were all sleeping the most soundly, even then we were alerted, saved and kept unharmed, that even in that extreme situation evil could not win. It was that option that we voiced to the group, and when we did, the atmosphere tangibly changed. Feelings of fear and vulnerability were replaced with a deep sense of safety and protection. Too, instead of my daughter feeling frightened, she felt the exact opposite, she felt like a hero.
Afterwards when I was thinking about what had taken place, I realised that in the weeks leading up to that holiday, I had been doing a lot of praying. Praying to me is not a pleading to a far-off God for benevolence, but a deep, conscientious recognition of the divine goodness ever-present in our lives. Tuning our thought to all that is right and good and loving is a bit like practising our maths calculations – we get better at it and see more right results appear. To me that’s what God is, the Principle that makes life work right and brings out those good results.
As we now move forward into this new way of living, recognising the good we’ve all had the time to focus on and practice, can help us feel assured that good results lie ahead for us. Through this period, haven’t we all been diligently and selflessly caring for one another in being isolated and law-abiding? Haven’t we had the time to rethink how we value our families and community? Haven’t we all been re-evaluating how we can better care for our planet? The basis of this thinking is love, and the Bible defines God as Love. Thinking rightly and acting lovingly is like doing our maths correctly, it assures us of good outcomes. It gives us the assurance that our futures will work out rightly.
This way of thinking about God, life and ourselves is Christianly scientific. If you’d like to look into this powerful healing way of thinking then visit the beautiful official website christianscience.com.
This recording is of readings on the topic: God – An Ever Present Help in Trouble
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Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from they presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
(The Bible – Psalms 139: 7, 8,11)
Every Wednesday at 6.15pm a Testimony Meeting is held at the Christian Science church in Canberra (corner of Macquarie and Bligh Streets, Barton). At these meetings short readings on a particular topic are followed by time for members of the congregation to share how they have been helped and healed through prayer.
This recording is of readings on the topic: Grace – God’s Unconditional LoveMeeting the Human Need
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… prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
(The Bible – Malachi 3:10)
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Every Wednesday at 6.15pm a Testimony Meeting is held at the Christian Science church in Canberra (corner of Macquarie and Bligh Streets, Barton). At these meetings short readings on a particular topic are followed by time for members of the congregation to share how they have been helped and healed through prayer.
Everyone is welcome. If you are in Canberra on any Wednesday, please join us.
The members of the Christian Science community in Canberra share their experiences and thoughts on Christian Science:
About two weeks ago, along with others around the world I watched on TV the fall of Kabul and the urgent rush for people to get on a plane out of Afghanistan. The scenes were horrific and prompted me to pray about the presence of Love and order operating right there, even though it only looked like chaos.
A couple of days after I was prompted to pray this way, on Monday 16th August, I received a text message from a friend of one of my daughters. She knew I was a Christian Science practitioner and she asked me if I could pray for the safety of the wife and baby daughter of a good friend of hers. The friend worked for the Australian government and was in Canberra but his wife and daughter were in Kabul, in all the mayhem, trying to get out on a Defence plane.
I texted back immediately reminding her and her friend that Allah, being another word for I AM or God, was with the little family and I would pray to see evidence of this. I also assured my friend that she had the spiritual capacity to recognise God’s protective love and we could catch a glimpse of this together.
Later the same day, they received an email from the Australian Government saying that the application for citizenship had been escalated and steps were being taken in Kabul to forward the administration. I knew that ‘red tape’ didn’t have more power than the divine law of good.
The next contact was two days later, to tell me that the little family had been told by government to wait at home till instructed to go to the airport. This was a period of quiet trust in God and hope that safe passage to the airport was being organised. My friend texted me “divine law is operating despite appearances” – I was thrilled to see this tone of her thought.
A few days later a text came at 2:30 am to tell me that the mother and baby were safely inside the airport. As I lay in bed I thought further about the safety of the mother and child and the tender care God was taking of all His creation. Even in the best of circumstances I’ve flown long flights with babies and young children and it can be challenging. Seeing the images of those fleeing Afghanistan crushed into defence planes, I prayed specifically for the baby to feel at peace. Later that morning another text came to say they were on the plane and close to landing in Dubai. I shared with my friend a Bible verse I often use when travelling: “Behold I send an angel before you to keep you in the way’ (Exodus 23:20). We were gratefully watching this promise from God being fulfilled.
The next text told of how the mother and child had had a couple of nights at a military base in Dubai. Accompanying this message was a photo of the smiling baby girl in a little pink dress, looking very much at peace. Next they let me know they were in Melbourne in quarantine and the friend of my friend, who had sparked this prayer journey a week earlier, was on his way from Canberra to meet up with his wife and child. He had official permission to be with them during their COVID quarantine period.
When the request came to pray for someone trying to escape from Kabul under those chaotic circumstances, I was grateful that Principle, the law of Love, was powerful enough to respond. Once I started giving focussed prayer to the danger as the Taliban took over, I felt the power of prayer from around the world. There was a palpable sense of God being on the field. These last couple of weeks have brought into focus for me a little more of what Mary Baker Eddy hoped for Christian Scientists:
“During this final conflict, wicked minds will endeavor to find means by which to accomplish more evil; but those who discern Christian Science will hold crime in check. They will aid in the ejection of error. They will maintain law and order, and cheerfully await the certainty of ultimate perfection.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p96:31)
With humility and gratitude I’m glad I could contribute to some modest ‘aid’ and I “cheerfully await the certainty of ultimate perfection”. There is so much to be grateful for, as bit by bit I learn of the joy and relief of those involved in this escape from danger.
Barbara Cook Spencer, a writer for the Christian Science Sentinel, shares her prayers for Afghanistan. She writes …
Like many others, I have been praying in recent days about the challenging situation in Afghanistan. The task of safely evacuating thousands of people seemed overwhelming to me. But as I earnestly prayed, the twenty-third Psalm suddenly came to thought in a totally new way, strengthening and comforting me. It begins, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (verse 1 ). In the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy presents a spiritual interpretation of this line. She writes: “[Divine love ] is my shepherd; I shall not want” (p. 578 ).
At that moment, I saw divine Love, God, as the all-embracing, all-powerful, ever-tender, and disciplined Shepherd of every individual needing to leave Afghanistan. …
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Click hereto read the full article where Barbara shares how her prayers brought her a sense of peace and hope. This article was originally published in an August 2021 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.
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PSALM 23
[Divine love ] is my shepherd; I shall not want. [Love ] maketh me to lie down in green pastures: [love ] leadeth me beside the still waters. [Love ] restoreth my soul [spiritual sense]: [love ] leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for [love ] is with me; [love ’s] rod and [love ’s] staff they comfort me. [Love ] prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: [love ] anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [love ] for ever.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p578)
The members of the Christian Science community in Canberra share their experiences and thoughts on Christian Science:
One dark, very wet night, I was scheduled to attend a Church meeting in Barton, ACT. There was a forecast for heavy storms which might include hail. Our area had been affected by hailstorms the year before and, prior to going to the meeting, I had consciously acknowledged that as attending the meeting was a “right activity” all those attending, and all those in the vicinity of our Church, could know that they and their property (including their cars), are safe.
There was indeed a storm and heavy rain whilst we were at the meeting and when we were leaving it was still raining steadily. I put my papers and handbag on the boot of my car whilst I rummaged for my car keys and then my passenger and I drove towards home. When we had travelled for about 9 km, I stopped at red traffic lights and when the lights turned green I drove on. Suddenly, the driver behind me started flashing his headlights and hooting his horn. My first thought was that I had done something wrong. I checked that my headlights were on and I knew that I hadn’t been speeding and had stopped in good time at the red light. However, the car behind me persisted in trying to get me to pull over. I took the off ramp to the hospital and stopped the car. The other car pulled up in front of my car and we were not sure what the safe thing to do was. A passenger from the other car got out and ran black towards my car, so I got out. She wanted to let me know that my wallet was on the top of my car’s boot. It had stayed there safely for the whole journey despite several turns and changes of speed!
I was grateful for the alertness of these complete strangers and their kindness and persistence in letting me know about my wallet (which incidentally contained my driving licence, my credit cards and other important cards). The thing that has stayed with me most following this experience is the feeling of God’s protection.
I have learned through this and many other situations, that God, Love, is always with us and that we can trust in his care.
I love the promise from one of our hymns:
“His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.”
(Christian Science Hymnal – Hymn 209 (Verse 2)
and also this promise,
“Good thoughts are an impervious armour; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort. And not only yourselves are safe, but all whom your thoughts rest upon are thereby benefited.”
(The First Church of Christ, Scientist and Miscellany by Mary Baker Eddy p210: 7–11).
A Daily Lift by Sancy Nason, a Christian Science Practitioner.
In this 3 minute talk Sancy describes how her needs were met in a most unusual way during a hike in the bushland of Ku-ring-gai National Park near Sydney.
A new 3 minute inspirational talk is shared each day Monday-Friday. To listen to more click on the Daily Lift tab in the menu above.
The members of the Christian Science community in Canberra share their experiences and thoughts on Christian Science:
Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe. (The Bible -Psalm 119: 117)
Today in casual conversation with a friend the subject of cars came up. We were exchanging stories about how we came to have our present vehicles, and what previous cars we had. We discovered that we had in the past the same make of car which we really enjoyed because it was a road hugging car in which we felt very safe. I related that my car previous to this one had been written off with me driving and how I had been protected through this experience.
I would like to share my story with a heart full of gratitude to God, good, that I was not hurt, but walked away from the scene totally unscathed. The country road that I was travelling on was very well known to me as I used it daily travelling to work and home again and at weekends when I went out.
I was living rurally at the time in a hilly area and the road was winding down towards the township. There had been a lot of rain overnight which had caused a pothole to form in the road and I did not see the hole as I came around the bend. One wheel of the car hit the edge of the pothole which caused the car to spin. I found myself unable to right the car as it spun to the other side of the road facing the opposite direction and over on its side.
As the car was flying through the air, with anything loose in the car flying about as well, I heard myself shouting out, “God is my life, God is my life, I cannot be separated from God, my life.” When all the spinning was over I was able to climb out of a door and proceeded to walk home which was probably about a couple of miles away. Even this was taken care of, as at that time a neighbouring farmer and his wife came driving up the road and took me home.
My husband and I had then to do the calling of the police and arrange to get the car back on the road. I had been on my way to church at the time where I had a duty to perform. After ringing to make my apologies I decided that I may as well bake a cake which I had intended to do when I got home from church anyway.
There were no after-effects from this experience. In fact it did not occur to me that there could be until the next day at my place of work someone commented that at least I should have had a headache as the result of the incident. The protection was complete as I turned to the presence of my Father-Mother God as the source of my life. My subsequent car was the road hugger which I enjoyed driving for a good number of years.
All power unto our God is given, on Him we place reliance. (Hymn 10 – Christian Science Hymnal)
The Christian Science Church – a part of the Canberra community. Members share testimonies and talk about their lives as Christian Scientists.
This article, A Quick Recovery from Pneumonia, is by a member of the Christian Science Church in Canberra. It describes a quick healing of pneumonia-like symptoms.
Last year quite suddenly I began to feel ill. Within a day I was laboring to breathe and felt dangerously ill. Some years back I had similarly fallen ill and to comply with work regulations was assessed by a doctor. The diagnosis at this previous time was pneumonia so I was fairly certain that this time, although I did not consult a doctor, I was also presenting with pneumonia symptoms.
I was brought up in Christian Science and have witnessed many healings so I felt confident in relying on prayer again for this.
Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.
So I held fast to this and the knowledge that I was made in ‘the image and likeness of God’ (Genesis 1: 26, 27) and this settled my thinking. By the next morning I was breathing easily but I still felt extremely unwell. At this point I thought it was wise to contact a friend and ask her to pray with me. This friend expressed such love and tenderness – I just felt enveloped in love. Within a couple of hours the temperature was gone and I was feeling well enough to get up. That night I ate dinner with the family and the next morning I was at my usual post as Superintendent of the Sunday School. This was the end of this condition.
For this, the previous healing of pneumonia, and many other healings through prayer and spiritualisation of thought I am very grateful. Christian Science is teaching me, as I meet such challenges, that we really do have dominion and that God is ‘a very present help in trouble’ (Psalm 46: 1).
To read more testimonies of healing shared by members of the Christian Science Church in Canberra click on the archive headings on the left for May and June 2016.
The Christian Science Church – a part of the Canberra community. Members share testimonies and talk about their lives as Christian Scientists.
This article, A Prayer and a Cat, is by Debbie who is a member of the Christian Science Church in Canberra. She describes how her prayers for the world also resulted in healing for a friend’s cat.
I would like to share a healing that happened some years ago but it’s one that has meant a lot to me.
At the time I was working as a teacher in a local primary school. There was one particular colleague that I sat with sometimes at lunch; she often talked to me about her cat, Hershey, who seemed to be a big part of her life. However, at this particular time much of her conversation was about her upcoming trip to the US – a holiday for which they had been saving for a long time.
One day I walked into the staff room to find this friend crying gently while she ate her sandwich. I sat with her and asked what had upset her. She said that Hershey was sick and the vet had said he would die any day. She was supposed to leave for the US in a few days and no cattery would take a cat that was about to die. The kindest thing to do, the vet said, was to put him to sleep before she left.
My friend couldn’t bring herself to put her beloved cat down and felt guilty that she was leaving him when he was so ill. Yet the holiday couldn’t be cancelled at this late date.
Without thinking too much I said: “Would you like me to mind Hershey?” Immediately she jumped at this idea and within the minute it was settled. She said she understood that he would not be alive when she returned but that at least he could go in his own time and in comfort. I agreed.
Two days later Hershey was delivered to my place. I admit I was not prepared for the sight of him. He lay motionless in his basket; he was skin and bones with dull tufty fur and sore spots; his eyes remained closed. I was informed that he needed his own quiet, dark room with no interruptions except for his medication. I had not considered the issue of medication. He had so many! She explained that Hershey had an immune deficiency condition – a cat’s version of AIDS she said. We installed Hershey in his room and she said her good-byes.
For two days I tried to give Hershey his medication but it seemed to cause him so much stress. I couldn’t see the point so I stopped. I had been brought up in Christian Science and had always solved problems quickly through prayer. Prayer for me was not a passive asking God for help but an active change of base in my thinking and spiritual reasoning.
There had been a lot of news coverage at this time around the issue of AIDS and I had been praying about this. In my reasoning I went back to my basic beliefs: I believed that there was a controlling order or principle to the universe and that principle was Love – another name for God. A God of love I reasoned could not make a dangerous universe; that a God of Love protected creation, it didn’t expose it to harm. I had proved many times that holding to spiritual truths, even in the face of evidence to the contrary, resolved inharmonious situations.
Now I applied this reasoning to Hershey. He was part of Love’s creation and I knew this Love was a powerful force for good. In the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy writes: You embrace your body in your thought, and you should delineate upon it thoughts of health, not of sickness (p208) so I embraced Hershey in my thought in this way. I didn’t dwell on him, but I held to this idea every time I did think of him. I felt safe that he was safe.
Very quickly he began to respond. In a day or so he was up and walking about his room; another day or two he was out and exploring the house.
At the end of two weeks my friend returned and phoned to see how things had gone with Hershey. She was very surprised to hear that he was ready to be picked up. When she arrived to collect him he was sitting on the back of the lounge in the sun looking out the window. He was plump and healthy, his fur was flawless and sleek and shiny, and he had a playful sparkle in his eyes. He was very glad to be going home.
Sometimes when I pray for the world I am tempted to wonder: Are my prayers doing any good? This experience with Hershey gave me further proof that spiritual truths are powerful, more powerful than material evidence, and that prayers are effective in bringing about harmony in any situation – even those given up as hopeless. I continue to be grateful for all that I am learning in my on-going study of Christian Science.
The Christian Science Church – a part of the Canberra community. Members share testimonies and talk about their lives as Christian Scientists. 
This article, A Prayer and a Cat, is by Debbie who is a member of the Christian Science Church in Canberra. She describes how her prayers for the world also resulted in healing for a friend’s cat.