Article November 20, 1915 Issue

"The secret place"

CHARLES F. KRAFT

One day, while struggling with a problem which had seemed to baffle every effort at solution, the writer opened the Bible and turned to the ninety-first psalm. On reading the first verse with its assurance of divine protection, the question came as it had never come before, Where is "the secret place"? Then followed a yearning desire to find it, and consequently an analysis of the situation regarding man, as taught in Christian Science. I saw that by the very nature of God, infinite good, man as God's likeness cannot get outside of this infinity, and that according to this I am now dwelling in the infinity of good. But how do I know this; can the boundaries of infinity be seen or felt? They cannot be cognized through the physical senses. Surely, then, the infinity of Truth, Life, and Love is "secret" to material sense; and yet in spite of the limitations of material sense, I know that Truth is infinite and that infinity is true.

With this thought there came a sense of peace, and I began to read this wonderful psalm as I had never read it before. It became luminous with divine Love. I saw that as all truth is eternal, this truth of God's protection of man not only has always existed, but actually exists now. "Then," I exclaimed, "verily I am even now dwelling in 'the secret place,' and am therefore protected this moment, and I can declare that now divine Love is 'my refuge and my fortress: my God,' in whom I do trust." As I continued reading, I found myself making each promise my own.

The seventh verse of this beautiful psalm has often been quoted as though a thousand of one's fellow beings might be stricken at his side, yet without injury to him. This had always seemed to me as in a way unjust; but now like a flood of light came the realization that none of God's children are ever destroyed, that it is only false beliefs which are lost, and these never touch or become a part of God's image and likeness. Such a sense of divine Love's immanence flooded my consciousness that I knew my prayer had been answered.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Poem

"A still small voice"