One day while the writer was sitting beside a stream in the country, the wind became so strong that she sought shelter in her car, which was parked on a hillside. As she sat looking out over the scene before her and saw the many beautiful young trees on the opposite side of the hill being blown about, these words from Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy came to her (p. 489): "Outside the material sense of things, all is harmony."

Realizing the truth of this angel message, she thought, "Why, of course, right here, now, there is harmony; and I can be conscious of God's creation where I am, for Christian Science teaches that none of the material elements, so called, have ever touched the spiritual ideas of His kingdom." For a few unforgettable seconds it appeared to her that the wind ceased, the trees and all around became quite calm and still; this stillness seemed to permeate the area with a quietness beyond description.

The writer recalls the awe she felt at the time and the potent awareness that came to her of the peace and harmony of the kingdom of heaven, or reign of divine consciousness, which assuredly is outside the realm of mortal mind, or the material sense of things. The remembrance of that day and of the perfect stillness experienced then has helped her through many a windswept trial, lifting her thought until a recognition of God's presence, with its inspiration, has brought help and healing.

What a joy for us to realize that man and the real universe are always bathed in the harmony of spiritual stillness! This realization comes to all in some measure when consciousness is inspired of God. Those who love God and are close to Him in thought know the wonderful feeling of peace that His presence brings.

Someone may say: "But with all I have to do, how do I find this peace? There just isn't time enough for me." To attain an awareness of God's nearness and thus find peace, our consciousness must not be cluttered with material thoughts, for only in the quietness of contemplating Truth can we really hear His voice and feel sureness of contact with Him, the very source of our being.

This contact is also the source of our inspiration when thought is uplifted and hearts are at peace in a world unknown to the material senses. This is indeed the secret place where we find comfort and solace in time of grief, courage and conviction in times of endeavor, healing and health when sickness would have itself known.

Inspiration comes with the perception, in some degree, of man, made in the image and likeness of God. This spiritual seeing is not necessarily gained through much study or accumulation of years; it can be achieved here and now by the receptive humble thought.

Turning in childlike trust to our Father-Mother God, we can know Him to be an ever-present help, well able to meet the plea of the human heart for regeneration and healing. To find God is no task; we need but to be still and patiently wait for His angels, the thoughts which bring inspiration to uplift our consciousness and enable us to go forward in the demonstration of Truth and Love.

In the story of Jesus' visit to Martha and Mary, we have an example of the type of thought needed to gain this inspiration which is necessary for all who sincerely desire to progress in their understanding of God and His Christ. Martha was so busy with human preparations that she complained of Mary's lack of help with the household duties. But Jesus replied (Luke 10:41, 42), "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

This "good part" that Mary chose was spiritual understanding. Had Martha turned away from fretfulness over the work to be done and had she desired to learn of her true being as the beloved child of God, she would have found the harmony of spiritual peace, which is quite outside the material sense of things.

In the midst of the bustle of material activities, we can have the holy experience of communing with God. This experience results in a closeness to our creator which brings us a more spiritual view of all things, enabling us to rise above the false claims of a material existence. For as we reflect spiritual being, we come under God's law of harmony, and our whole existence is governed and controlled by divine Principle.

Our daily prayers and study bring us a knowledge of God, our Father-Mother, the divine Principle of being; but it is in spiritual stillness that His presence is felt and inspiration gained. With inspiration comes spiritual understanding, which establishes the kingdom of heaven here on earth, well within the reach of every seeking heart.