Article July 6, 1940 Issue

"Home, heaven"

ALICE B. LAYTON

Every heart warms at the word "home," but its real meaning must be apprehended, for only through the true idea of home can our earthly home be hallowed with the joys of heaven.

The right concept of home was never more needed than now, whereby each one can establish a right sense of it by living consciously in the eternal reality of Life, Truth, and Love. Dwelling therein, one can never be without divine protection; and even if to human sense one is bereft of friends and reduced to human loneliness, one can always be spiritually aware of the presence and power of God, infinite good, and constantly realize the encircling arms of divine Love. In the spiritual consciousness which is true home, all the qualities of being are nourished and cherished by divine Mind.

On page 587 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy defines "heaven" thus: "Harmony; the reign of Spirit; government by divine Principle; spirituality; bliss; the atmosphere of Soul." And she writes (ibid., p. 123): "The verity of Mind shows conclusively how it is that matter seems to be, but is not. Divine Science, rising above physical theories, excludes matter, resolves things into thoughts, and replaces the objects of material sense with spiritual ideas." Therefore, the true home is spiritual, not material.