Article July 24, 1976 Issue

At Home in the Consciousness of Love

CORINNE M. IVEY

Many families and individuals are finding it necessary to establish new homes in strange surroundings, sometimes in other countries. When viewed from the standpoint of Christian Science, these changes afford one an opportunity to establish a firm understanding of God's allness and of man's indestructible relationship to Him as His child. The argument that God expresses Himself more fully in one place than in another, or that our happiness is confined to a particular locality, is a false suggestion. All of God's qualities are ever present.

We all can find comfort in the Psalmist's assurance, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."^{Ps. 23:6;} In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy interprets the latter part of this verse, "and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [love] for ever."^{Science and Health, p. 578;} As we strive to come into closer touch with our Father-Mother God, divine Love, we will attain that mental state which is heaven here and now and find our true home, whose foundations are indestructible and eternal. Our true home is a spiritual idea always with us. It is not a physical habitation. It is found in a constant consciousness that man abides and dwells in the kingdom of heaven, his forever home. The Psalmist declared, "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations."^{Ps. 90:1;}

In speaking of the human sense of home, Christ Jesus said, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."^{Matt. 8:20;} So at home was he in his consciousness of God's presence that wherever his mission took him, lack of the material surroundings we call home could not hinder his teachings and healings. All who obey his teachings may find, as he did, a spiritually mental home that can never be taken from them.