Article February 16, 1935 Issue

Encircling Love

HAZEL HARPER HARRIS BRANDNER

When one is depressed with doubt or fear, it is comforting to reflect upon the truth expressed in a line of a poem, "Mother's Evening Prayer" (Poems, p. 4), written by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science: "His arm encircles me, and mine, and all." What a tender expression of God's sustaining and protecting power, enfolding all His children in His everlasting love! The widening circle of thought expressed in the words "me, and mine, and all," invites meditation upon the eternal fact that man and the universe are held within the all-encircling love of God, sustained by Love's beneficent law.

The word "encircle" means to surround. The love expressed in our heavenly Father's protection, sustenance, and tender care of His children is complete; and we can reflect Love in loving service to our fellows and in praise to God, the source of all good. All can learn to love unselfishly as Jesus did. The more unselfish our love, the more nearly it approaches the divine and manifests its power. An individual may at any moment begin to love, to give loving service through which good may flow to others; and thus he will experience an influx of good into his own life. Thus is the unbroken current of love established, bringing its largess of blessings.

The love that is selflessly expended returns in the form of blessings to him who loves. The prophet said, "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: ... lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes." The individual thus pays his debt of love to God, and this obedience to God opens up ways for the payment of human obligations. One who loves his fellow men never lacks loving companionship and friendship; one who loves to serve never lacks opportunity and ability; and one who loves God never lacks employment and reward, for God directs him in right ways through which to express the divine nature to others, and rewards him openly.

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