Wow. I looked at the Golden Text this morning and realized I had been working with 'the works of God' part. In each section I looked for 'the works' that were described. Today it was the word 'see' that just lit up the page. It gave me a whole new focus for the rest of the week. So now I can be alert to 'see' the works of God.
Come and see the works of God. Psalms 66:5
Elijah saw God's power in response to his request to show the people the true God.
Elisha saw the chariots of fire that took Elijah to heaven.
Elisha saw there is no death with the Shunamites son.
John's disciples saw that Jesus was the true Messiah by the healing work he was doing.
Mrs. Eddy saw the truth about God and man in her discovery of Christian Science.
John saw the new heaven and the new earth he describes in Revelation.
Come and see the works of God.
Do I think those things only happened 'way back when'? No! I know they are happened every day right now. But this is a call to 'see' those works of God today, to be aware of the good and the beauty of His creation. To be looking for them and feeling gratitude in God's presence.
This is one of God's promises...the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah 40:5 Everyone shall 'see' the glory of the Lord. It's right in front of us and we can 'see' it, understand it. As in, 'oh, I see', I get it.
Come and see the works of God. This is going to be a great day!
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Back and forth
We were laughing as we watched our kitty go back and forth between two toys. He couldn't seem to make up his mind so he stood still and looked from one to the other. Haven't we all felt that sense of being unable to choose between two things?
This week's Bible Lesson opens with Elijah the prophet coming to address the children of Israel who were halting between two opinions. Not in the sense of suspending judgment but of vacillating between serving God and worshipping Baal. Going back and forth. He instructs them to choose. It is uncomfortable to sit astride a fence and the longer you sit there, the more uncomfortable it gets.
To those people it was not a question of which was the sole God, but which was more powerful and had the greater claim on their devotion. In Isaiah's time they would come to the point in their spiritual growth when they understood that God was the only Deity and beside Him there is no other.
My kids used to love hearing this story and picturing those prophets of Baal jumping around singing, "Baal, Baal, light the fire!" But I wonder if it is any different for those who jump around from one medical remedy to another calling upon them to heal some physical challenge. "Excedrin, Excedrin, get rid of this headache!" or "Cure my cold" or "help me lose weight."
There was no response to their chanting for their was nothing to hear them, nothing to respond.
Elijah takes over and he invites the people to come near. He addresses the Lord God of Abraham, and of Israel. He prays that God will answer the call and show the people His power. And He does. In a big way, consuming the sacrifice, the wood, the stone altar, the dust and the water that had been poured on it. The people saw and they understood. The Lord is God. That is the reality of it.
Our Lesson on Reality invites us to 'come and see the works of God'. It includes not only the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, but Elisha seeing Elijah taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire, and then Elisha continuing Elijah's work healing a childless woman. He later raises her child from what appears to be death. When Jesus begins his healing ministry John, who has been imprisoned by Herod, sends some of his students to Jesus to ask him if he is the promised Messiah. Jesus responds by telling them to show John what he has been doing, healing all manner of sickness and disease. His works speak for him.
Is God working in our age? Yes. Mary Baker Eddy discovered Christian Science, or the law of God as ever present good, and she began to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease as well. She wrote it in a book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, so all may study it and practice that same method of healing.
So there is no need to go back and forth, or halt between two opinions. The promised Comforter is here and available to all.
Come and see the works of God.
This week's Bible Lesson opens with Elijah the prophet coming to address the children of Israel who were halting between two opinions. Not in the sense of suspending judgment but of vacillating between serving God and worshipping Baal. Going back and forth. He instructs them to choose. It is uncomfortable to sit astride a fence and the longer you sit there, the more uncomfortable it gets.
To those people it was not a question of which was the sole God, but which was more powerful and had the greater claim on their devotion. In Isaiah's time they would come to the point in their spiritual growth when they understood that God was the only Deity and beside Him there is no other.
My kids used to love hearing this story and picturing those prophets of Baal jumping around singing, "Baal, Baal, light the fire!" But I wonder if it is any different for those who jump around from one medical remedy to another calling upon them to heal some physical challenge. "Excedrin, Excedrin, get rid of this headache!" or "Cure my cold" or "help me lose weight."
There was no response to their chanting for their was nothing to hear them, nothing to respond.
Elijah takes over and he invites the people to come near. He addresses the Lord God of Abraham, and of Israel. He prays that God will answer the call and show the people His power. And He does. In a big way, consuming the sacrifice, the wood, the stone altar, the dust and the water that had been poured on it. The people saw and they understood. The Lord is God. That is the reality of it.
Our Lesson on Reality invites us to 'come and see the works of God'. It includes not only the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, but Elisha seeing Elijah taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire, and then Elisha continuing Elijah's work healing a childless woman. He later raises her child from what appears to be death. When Jesus begins his healing ministry John, who has been imprisoned by Herod, sends some of his students to Jesus to ask him if he is the promised Messiah. Jesus responds by telling them to show John what he has been doing, healing all manner of sickness and disease. His works speak for him.
Is God working in our age? Yes. Mary Baker Eddy discovered Christian Science, or the law of God as ever present good, and she began to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease as well. She wrote it in a book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, so all may study it and practice that same method of healing.
So there is no need to go back and forth, or halt between two opinions. The promised Comforter is here and available to all.
Come and see the works of God.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Questions
I just love to look at the questions that show up in each Bible Lesson. This week there were several and I have been pondering them all week.
The first one, in Section One, follows the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho. He and his men of war and the priests conquered the city without firing a shot. They laid 'open siege' to it, compassing it about for seven days before shouting at Joshua's signal. Those walls fell down flat. The question posed in Science and Health is "On which side are we fighting?" Siege can mean a prolonged period of time. There are sometimes challenges we work on that seem to be a bit overwhelming and we wonder just how we are going to overcome those 'walls' of resistance. Here is an assurance that our 'open siege', our prolonged fervent prayers can be totally effective. Those 'walls' can fall down flat so that the way opens up to move forward successfully, to master the situation, to see a healing solution.
We have to stay alert and be sure just which side we are arguing for, the spiritual side or the material picture.
The next question was in the Fourth Section which shows our ability to deal with 'breath' issues, like allergies or lung disease. "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?" Stop identifying with the man in Genesis Two, created from the dust of the ground, and subject to that dust. Understand man made in God's image and likeness as explained in Genesis One. We reflect God, Life, just like the reflection of the original in a mirror. God is Spirit, God is Mind so we are ideas held and maintained in Mind, spiritual not material. As for the severity of the claim, as in allergies or disease, nothing is impossible to God, Spirit. Jesus healed all manner of sickness and all manner of disease with perfect assurance and success.
A thought-provoking question shows up in Section Five. "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?" Gilead was a mountainous part of Palestine where balm (balsam) was found and in the same place would be found those skilled in its use. Jeremiah is speaking, anticipating the captivity and the distressed cries of the exiles. The people had lost one chance of deliverance after another, and might now despair. Here is another 'siege' situation where persistence and faith can bring about healing. Prayer works.
The Golden Text mentions 'stumbling blocks'. Stumbling blocks are defined as an obstacle or impediment. They will appear as we move forward on our spiritual journey but they can also be considered stepping stones, opportunities to put into practice what we are learning as we study these Bible Lessons.
I am grateful to have these questions to think about each week and even more grateful for the healing solutions that lead to spiritual growth.
The first one, in Section One, follows the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho. He and his men of war and the priests conquered the city without firing a shot. They laid 'open siege' to it, compassing it about for seven days before shouting at Joshua's signal. Those walls fell down flat. The question posed in Science and Health is "On which side are we fighting?" Siege can mean a prolonged period of time. There are sometimes challenges we work on that seem to be a bit overwhelming and we wonder just how we are going to overcome those 'walls' of resistance. Here is an assurance that our 'open siege', our prolonged fervent prayers can be totally effective. Those 'walls' can fall down flat so that the way opens up to move forward successfully, to master the situation, to see a healing solution.
We have to stay alert and be sure just which side we are arguing for, the spiritual side or the material picture.
The next question was in the Fourth Section which shows our ability to deal with 'breath' issues, like allergies or lung disease. "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?" Stop identifying with the man in Genesis Two, created from the dust of the ground, and subject to that dust. Understand man made in God's image and likeness as explained in Genesis One. We reflect God, Life, just like the reflection of the original in a mirror. God is Spirit, God is Mind so we are ideas held and maintained in Mind, spiritual not material. As for the severity of the claim, as in allergies or disease, nothing is impossible to God, Spirit. Jesus healed all manner of sickness and all manner of disease with perfect assurance and success.
A thought-provoking question shows up in Section Five. "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?" Gilead was a mountainous part of Palestine where balm (balsam) was found and in the same place would be found those skilled in its use. Jeremiah is speaking, anticipating the captivity and the distressed cries of the exiles. The people had lost one chance of deliverance after another, and might now despair. Here is another 'siege' situation where persistence and faith can bring about healing. Prayer works.
The Golden Text mentions 'stumbling blocks'. Stumbling blocks are defined as an obstacle or impediment. They will appear as we move forward on our spiritual journey but they can also be considered stepping stones, opportunities to put into practice what we are learning as we study these Bible Lessons.
I am grateful to have these questions to think about each week and even more grateful for the healing solutions that lead to spiritual growth.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Holiness and wholeness
The theme running through this week's Bible Lesson on Man is holiness. It starts in the Golden Text and appears in each section of the Bible and in the correlative passages from Science and Health. So I decided to look up the word 'holy' in the dictionary. To be holy is to be sacred, to live according to a strict or highly moral religious or spiritual system; set apart for a religious purpose; deserving special respect or reverence. I associate all of that with God and I look forward to gaining a clearer understanding of how that applies to man, each of us, me, because we are His children, made in His image and likeness. As He is holy, so must we, so must I, be holy, by reflection.
Another source is the Synonym Finder. Just look at what we are as holy children of a holy Father.
Blessed. Heaven-born. (That one wipes out any so-called birth defects or hereditary problems!) Blissful. (That means always at peace and joyous, aware of the good all around us) Devout. (One who expresses goodness and is devoted to God) Right-minded. (Having that Mind that was in Christ Jesus, we can always think and do the right thing, always hold the right concept or opinion of ourselves and others, of current events) Innocent. (One of my favorites, not guilty of breaking any spiritual law, not accountable to any material medical law) Pure. (Without flaw eliminates any skin problems or belief of cancer) Untainted. (Free from anything that would try to attach itself to us of an impure nature, no problems with temper or hatred)
It sounds like a lot to live up to but the good news (the gospel) is that all of the above is already true about us, each one of us, by divine birthright. It is our true nature. We just have to make a practice of claiming it daily in our prayers for ourselves. It is a good thing to establish in thought at the very beginning of the day and then to bring to mind all day long as things come up to try to make us believe otherwise. God is holy, I am holy. I am whole in my holiness. Nothing unlike holiness can be a part of me or anyone else.
God, my Father Mother, is holy.
I, as His beloved child, His image and likeness, am holy. Whole
That never changes.
I'll be humming hymn 117 all day.
Another source is the Synonym Finder. Just look at what we are as holy children of a holy Father.
Blessed. Heaven-born. (That one wipes out any so-called birth defects or hereditary problems!) Blissful. (That means always at peace and joyous, aware of the good all around us) Devout. (One who expresses goodness and is devoted to God) Right-minded. (Having that Mind that was in Christ Jesus, we can always think and do the right thing, always hold the right concept or opinion of ourselves and others, of current events) Innocent. (One of my favorites, not guilty of breaking any spiritual law, not accountable to any material medical law) Pure. (Without flaw eliminates any skin problems or belief of cancer) Untainted. (Free from anything that would try to attach itself to us of an impure nature, no problems with temper or hatred)
It sounds like a lot to live up to but the good news (the gospel) is that all of the above is already true about us, each one of us, by divine birthright. It is our true nature. We just have to make a practice of claiming it daily in our prayers for ourselves. It is a good thing to establish in thought at the very beginning of the day and then to bring to mind all day long as things come up to try to make us believe otherwise. God is holy, I am holy. I am whole in my holiness. Nothing unlike holiness can be a part of me or anyone else.
God, my Father Mother, is holy.
I, as His beloved child, His image and likeness, am holy. Whole
That never changes.
I'll be humming hymn 117 all day.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
My friend Zacchaeus
Over the years I have published four posts about Zacchaeus. Here they are if you'd like to see them.
1. Today I must be a guest in your house - 10/1/13
2. Hastening to meet the Christ - 9/28/12
3. Truth - Jesus, the leper, and Zacchaeus.
4. Shepherd thoughts, part five - 9/15/07
Zacchaeus has much to tell us and I look forward to gaining a new insight this week in our
Bible Lesson on Mind.
Funny story. I was on campus today to serve in the practitioner's office. Called over to the Science building and spoke with the geology professor who had no idea how much sand is in a cup. So I looked on the internet and found an article by a scientist who had actually calculated how much sand there is around the world at a given time. It some outrageous number, like 57, with 17 zeros after it. One handful of sand contains more than 100,000 grains, I am not teaching Sunday school this week but it would be fun to share that with kids and relate it to the reference in section one....How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I could measure them, they are more in number than the sand. (Psalms 139:17)
More in number than the sand! That is great and precious indeed.
1. Today I must be a guest in your house - 10/1/13
2. Hastening to meet the Christ - 9/28/12
3. Truth - Jesus, the leper, and Zacchaeus.
4. Shepherd thoughts, part five - 9/15/07
Zacchaeus has much to tell us and I look forward to gaining a new insight this week in our
Bible Lesson on Mind.
Funny story. I was on campus today to serve in the practitioner's office. Called over to the Science building and spoke with the geology professor who had no idea how much sand is in a cup. So I looked on the internet and found an article by a scientist who had actually calculated how much sand there is around the world at a given time. It some outrageous number, like 57, with 17 zeros after it. One handful of sand contains more than 100,000 grains, I am not teaching Sunday school this week but it would be fun to share that with kids and relate it to the reference in section one....How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I could measure them, they are more in number than the sand. (Psalms 139:17)
More in number than the sand! That is great and precious indeed.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Spinning straw into gold
Have you ever wished you could spin straw into gold like Rumplestiltskin did in the fairy tale? Maybe you are faced with an urgent need for supply or are faced with meeting an impossible deadline or struggling with some physical challenge that threatens your life. It is easy to see how the girl in the story got caught in a web of lies.
Trying to impress an avaricious King a miller boasted that his daughter could spin straw into gold. The King sends for her and locks her in a room filled with straw. She is to spin it into gold by the next morning or forfeit her life. A strange little man appears, and says he will perform this task if she will give him something in return. The first time he takes her bracelet. Impressed but not satisfied with the pile of gold the King locks her in a larger room with the same demand. Again the little man comes and promises to spin the straw into gold, this time she pays him with a precious necklace that had belonged to her mother. Still wanting more gold the King locks her in the largest room in the palace. This time when the little man comes, he says he will only help her if she promises him her first born child. Desperate, she agrees. The job is done and the King is satisfied at last. He marries her and she becomes his queen. In time she has a son. Now the little man returns and demands her child. She begs so pitifully that he gives her three chances to guess his name. Helped by a peasant farm boy she learns his true name and is able to break his hold over her. He disappears forever.
There is a good message in this story. It shows clearly what happens when one starts down a path of lies. The first lie may seem to be successful but then the situation only escalates and requires bigger and bigger lies. The girl in the story believed herself to be in the power of the little man. She did not see that he spun that straw into gold he was also weaving a web of lies and deception that lead to disaster.
It reminded me of Jesus' experience in the wilderness where he had gone to pray after being baptized by God. He had heard God acknowledging him as His own beloved son. Jesus was about to be tempted by the promises of Satan, who wanted Jesus to worship him. Satan challenges Jesus to turn stones into bread. Not quite spinning straw into gold but an attempt to use his healing abilities for material gain. Jesus does not fall for this first attempt. Satan tries again, with a bigger promise. He is tempting Jesus to place his life in jeopardy so angels can come and rescue him. The miller's daughter feared for her life as well, but she simply continues to give in to the evil suggestions. Error is never satisfied, it will always try to get more. It, too, wants to be worshipped. But it cannot really come through with its promises for there is no authority or power behind them.
What finally freed the Queen was seeing the true nature of the little man, learning his true name. Once she saw him for what he was, he disappeared. Jesus overcame the third temptation the same way. He understood his own ability to stand up to error's lies and sent him packing. Error has no choice but to give up and go away, back to nothingness. Like Rumpelstiltskin, evil wanted control over the Christ, over the first-born son of God. It failed with the Queen, it failed with Jesus.
So how do we 'spin straw into gold', how do we handle what seems like an insurmountable situation? Our Bible Lesson this week helps with this. We should begin by seeing who is in charge. "When man is governed by God, the ever-present Mind who understands all things, man knows that with God all things are possible." (S&H 180:25-27) God is our source of supply and strength and health and He is available 'at all times and under all circumstances' to provide the answer we need.
We can continue by understanding that 'the wicked man is not the ruler of his upright neighbor'. Error or evil is never in charge, never has control over our lives and well being. Mrs. Eddy advises, "Let it be understood that success in error is defeat in Truth." (S&H 239:12-13) When one gives in to temptation and tells that first little lie, or chooses to indulge in something that is wrong (why can't I drink one beer with my buddies, or take something that does not belong to me, or disobey my parents) that makes it all the easier to give in the next time...and the next, until there is a final accounting. Cheating becomes too easy.
We must see error for what it is, nothing masquerading as something, a liar promiseing things it cannot deliver. We must be just as clear about the allness of God, good, who loves us as His own beloved child, made in His image and likeness. Divine Love will meet every human need. Jesus proved that with the loaves and the fishes. We can demonstrate it as well 'spinning straw into gold'. Replace the useless straw or chaff and be enriched with the truth of your spiritual identity, never separated from your Father Mother God, never caught in a hopeless or helpless situation. See error's true identity, its true name, and it will lose any hold you thought it had. You are not the victim of false appetite, addiction, never at the mercy of lack, never overpowered by illness. Whatever your 'Rumplestiltskin' pretends to be, use that as an opportunity to know more about God and you will be rich beyond compare.
Trying to impress an avaricious King a miller boasted that his daughter could spin straw into gold. The King sends for her and locks her in a room filled with straw. She is to spin it into gold by the next morning or forfeit her life. A strange little man appears, and says he will perform this task if she will give him something in return. The first time he takes her bracelet. Impressed but not satisfied with the pile of gold the King locks her in a larger room with the same demand. Again the little man comes and promises to spin the straw into gold, this time she pays him with a precious necklace that had belonged to her mother. Still wanting more gold the King locks her in the largest room in the palace. This time when the little man comes, he says he will only help her if she promises him her first born child. Desperate, she agrees. The job is done and the King is satisfied at last. He marries her and she becomes his queen. In time she has a son. Now the little man returns and demands her child. She begs so pitifully that he gives her three chances to guess his name. Helped by a peasant farm boy she learns his true name and is able to break his hold over her. He disappears forever.
There is a good message in this story. It shows clearly what happens when one starts down a path of lies. The first lie may seem to be successful but then the situation only escalates and requires bigger and bigger lies. The girl in the story believed herself to be in the power of the little man. She did not see that he spun that straw into gold he was also weaving a web of lies and deception that lead to disaster.
It reminded me of Jesus' experience in the wilderness where he had gone to pray after being baptized by God. He had heard God acknowledging him as His own beloved son. Jesus was about to be tempted by the promises of Satan, who wanted Jesus to worship him. Satan challenges Jesus to turn stones into bread. Not quite spinning straw into gold but an attempt to use his healing abilities for material gain. Jesus does not fall for this first attempt. Satan tries again, with a bigger promise. He is tempting Jesus to place his life in jeopardy so angels can come and rescue him. The miller's daughter feared for her life as well, but she simply continues to give in to the evil suggestions. Error is never satisfied, it will always try to get more. It, too, wants to be worshipped. But it cannot really come through with its promises for there is no authority or power behind them.
What finally freed the Queen was seeing the true nature of the little man, learning his true name. Once she saw him for what he was, he disappeared. Jesus overcame the third temptation the same way. He understood his own ability to stand up to error's lies and sent him packing. Error has no choice but to give up and go away, back to nothingness. Like Rumpelstiltskin, evil wanted control over the Christ, over the first-born son of God. It failed with the Queen, it failed with Jesus.
So how do we 'spin straw into gold', how do we handle what seems like an insurmountable situation? Our Bible Lesson this week helps with this. We should begin by seeing who is in charge. "When man is governed by God, the ever-present Mind who understands all things, man knows that with God all things are possible." (S&H 180:25-27) God is our source of supply and strength and health and He is available 'at all times and under all circumstances' to provide the answer we need.
We can continue by understanding that 'the wicked man is not the ruler of his upright neighbor'. Error or evil is never in charge, never has control over our lives and well being. Mrs. Eddy advises, "Let it be understood that success in error is defeat in Truth." (S&H 239:12-13) When one gives in to temptation and tells that first little lie, or chooses to indulge in something that is wrong (why can't I drink one beer with my buddies, or take something that does not belong to me, or disobey my parents) that makes it all the easier to give in the next time...and the next, until there is a final accounting. Cheating becomes too easy.
We must see error for what it is, nothing masquerading as something, a liar promiseing things it cannot deliver. We must be just as clear about the allness of God, good, who loves us as His own beloved child, made in His image and likeness. Divine Love will meet every human need. Jesus proved that with the loaves and the fishes. We can demonstrate it as well 'spinning straw into gold'. Replace the useless straw or chaff and be enriched with the truth of your spiritual identity, never separated from your Father Mother God, never caught in a hopeless or helpless situation. See error's true identity, its true name, and it will lose any hold you thought it had. You are not the victim of false appetite, addiction, never at the mercy of lack, never overpowered by illness. Whatever your 'Rumplestiltskin' pretends to be, use that as an opportunity to know more about God and you will be rich beyond compare.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
No manner of hurt
No manner of hurt.
When Daniel survived his night in the lions' den, no manner of hurt was found on him. I found myself rereading that sentence. No manner of hurt. How many of us could go through such an experience and come out unscathed?
Daniel was chosen for the number one position 'because an excellent spirit was in him.' One can only assume those who conspired against him did so out of jealousy, not because he was not worthy of being in that role. He was innocent of any wrong doing. And yet he found himself condemned by the King he served so faithfully. His 'crime' was that he worshipped God faithfully, three times a day. So one could hardly blame him if he had come out of that holding a grudge.
But the next morning he greets the king, "O king, live forever." Who would have blamed him if he had said, "O foolish king, this was all your fault." But all those excellent qualities he expressed included true forgiveness and compassion.
Daniel was not 'hurt' by the acts of others. He did not take it personally, knowing 'the control which Love held over all." His feelings were not hurt by the actions of those presidents and princes. All that happened was that Daniel continues to rely on God, Love, and his clear understanding of God's law of ever present good.
Next time I find myself in what might be a 'hurtful' situation I hope I have the courage and wisdom to stand fast and let the angel 'shut the lions' mouths.' May I see that there is nothing that can hurt me physically or emotionally or any other way. May I turn to my angel and be aware of Love's sweet control.
Mrs. Eddy writes, "The very circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares." (Science and Health 574)
When Daniel survived his night in the lions' den, no manner of hurt was found on him. I found myself rereading that sentence. No manner of hurt. How many of us could go through such an experience and come out unscathed?
Daniel was chosen for the number one position 'because an excellent spirit was in him.' One can only assume those who conspired against him did so out of jealousy, not because he was not worthy of being in that role. He was innocent of any wrong doing. And yet he found himself condemned by the King he served so faithfully. His 'crime' was that he worshipped God faithfully, three times a day. So one could hardly blame him if he had come out of that holding a grudge.
But the next morning he greets the king, "O king, live forever." Who would have blamed him if he had said, "O foolish king, this was all your fault." But all those excellent qualities he expressed included true forgiveness and compassion.
Daniel was not 'hurt' by the acts of others. He did not take it personally, knowing 'the control which Love held over all." His feelings were not hurt by the actions of those presidents and princes. All that happened was that Daniel continues to rely on God, Love, and his clear understanding of God's law of ever present good.
Next time I find myself in what might be a 'hurtful' situation I hope I have the courage and wisdom to stand fast and let the angel 'shut the lions' mouths.' May I see that there is nothing that can hurt me physically or emotionally or any other way. May I turn to my angel and be aware of Love's sweet control.
Mrs. Eddy writes, "The very circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares." (Science and Health 574)
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