A dwelling place is of vital interest to most of us. Few relish the thought of living without shelter, without the comfort and convenience of a central point for living. Any student of the Bible can find the clue to recognizing the spiritual nature of what we call "home."

When Christ Jesus began his ministry, traveling from town to town throughout Galilee and Judea, he had no permanent residence but stayed with his followers. He lived simply but lacked nothing.

Once he promised his disciples: "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." ^{John 14:2;} He knew the Father, and the Father knew him. Did Jesus live in the Father's house? He must have been certain about this point. He spoke knowingly about the "mansions."

Since the Bible tells us "we live, and move, and have our being" ^{Acts 17:28;} in God, then the Father's house is divine consciousness. Jesus' statement indicates that there is ample room here for all who love Him. Just think! There is a mansion, a place, for each of us; an unlimited existence, a spiritual estate right now.

All His spiritual ideas dwell in this infinite consciousness. As children of God, we live in Him. His divine influence guards, guides, and satisfies us through His abundant grace and power. Through Christian Science we learn that God is our only Mind. Reflecting Him, we are conscious only of what He knows, what He sees, what He feels. We act as He acts. There, in the kingdom of heaven, we are conscious of the omnipotence and omnipresence of God that cannot be invaded, of His love that has no hate, of well-being that cannot fade, of completeness, of a coincidence with God that proves Him to be All.

In this realm we are not bounded by a matter body, a matter house, or a material universe, but exist in a wholly spiritual dimension. Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, writes, "The real house in which 'we live, and move, and have our being' is Spirit, God, the eternal harmony of infinite Soul." On the next page she adds, "Our surety is in our confidence that we are indeed dwellers in Truth and Love, man's eternal mansion." ^{Pulpit and Press, pp. 2—3;}

Sometimes our existence may seem to fall far short of this heavenly place. We may not feel close to God at all. We may not know how to love Him or feel His presence. Or we may believe we are unworthy of His generous gifts. We may long for healing and rest, but everything around us may appear insufficient, unloving, and incomplete.

There is a way to change this. Jesus said, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." ^{Matt. 4:17;} Sincere repentance for negative thinking and wrongdoing is the first step. Fearful and limited thoughts can be reversed, and we can become more receptive to God's goodness. The Father pardons and welcomes the penitent, embraces him in His love, heals him, and gives him confidence and hope. The Bible promises of healing and comfort sustain us, and its spiritual truths inspire us to action of the right kind.

Knowing that man actually dwells in Spirit enables us to discern our legitimate needs and the means to satisfy them. God gives us intelligence, strength, health, the capacity to love, and above all, spiritual understanding. Put into action, these qualities supply all our requirements. God has all good and gives all.

God's glory is right where we are. We don't have to go somewhere else or change anything to find God. But we do need to claim the fact that His presence is with us and His power supports us. We are blessed with all His goodness. Our Father's house includes the entire circumference of our living, our loving—in fact, every activity.

"They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures," ^{Ps. 36:8;} sang the Psalmist. We can overcome limitation of any kind by understanding man's oneness with God. Jesus proved that what feeds one feeds all. What houses one houses all. Whether we live in a room, a cottage, or a palace, our real dwelling place is the divine consciousness. There, we have the Father's abundance and gracious living.

How valuable to appreciate beauty—elegant design, majestic architecture, all that has lovely color, rhythm, and grace. Greatness, beauty, and originality express aspects of Soul. God, not matter, frames man. Where we live is not so important as how we live.

Several years ago my husband and I, through force of circumstances, lived for a time in a very small house. We had never lived in such a confined space. It seemed tiny, but it was adequate. There was neatness and order. The rooms were small but attractive. One day we told a visitor how much we admired her new and spacious home. She replied, "Yes, but your place has character."

We found we had increased freedom because there was less to care for and, more important, we could devote more time to prayer and study. We did not feel hemmed in by walls, since we knew we really lived in the Father's house—a boundless mansion.

There were times when we were tempted to feel crowded, but we quickly reminded ourselves to be thankful for our blessings. We learned through this experience how constructive attitudes give a spiritual sense of well-being. The Bible states: "This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house." ^{Ezek. 43:12.}

Our true home is God's house, His infinite, eternal mansion, where there is the harmony and beauty of Soul, the riches and abundance of Love. Nothing can change or destroy this "most holy" place.