Article December 11, 1909 Issue

HOME

BIRDELLA B. HOLTON.

Some years ago I read a poem with this as its theme, "Home is where the heart is." I had not thought of it since until, in seeking for the reason of a beautiful experience that I recently passed through, this line flashed into memory. In the '90's I spent several years on a farm, an experience which was full to overflowing with misery, both mental and physical. The resulting condition was beautifully healed by Christian Science, but for years any thought of the farm would bring a great wave of resentment and bitter memories, and I dreaded unspeakably any thought of returning there, even for a few hours.

Later, however, I knew that duty plainly called me there for two or three days of hard physical labor, but I found that with the new knowledge of God which I had gained through Christian Science, the dread of the associations connected with the place had perceptibly diminished. I arrived at the farm with my consciousness filled with good will, truth, and love. Our dear Leader tells us, "We cannot fill vessels already full" (Science and Health, p. 201), and consequently I found that the bitter memories were conspicuous only by their absence. Any sort of contentment in that place, for even the shortest time, had always seemed to me to be utterly impossible, hence the happiness and peace which filled my consciousness rather surprised me. When, however, my task was finished and I was journeying homeward, the quotation about home came to me, and I reasoned that home is where the affections are centered; that mine were now centered on the kingdom of God, and Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is within you," consequently I could carry home—contentment, joy, peace, everything the word stands for—with me!

I had learned this lesson, that environment, any externals, really amount to very little when we carry with us the "peace of God, which passeth all understanding."

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