Article October 19, 1992 Issue

Disaster: never natural

The Christian Science Monitor

So-called "natural" disasters, such as the fierce hurricane that recently struck the Bahamas, southern Florida, and moved into the Louisiana area, are never really natural. Devastated homes, widespread power outages, fallen trees, are anything but normal. Yet there are people in those conditions who are working selflessly to help others, to restore order, and to recapture the beauty of the towns they love. As one man interviewed for television said, "We'll just ... start over." Even if we live far from the affected areas, we each can do our part by helping through our prayer.

One psalm in the Bible that has meant a lot to me over the years has some wonderful ideas about where we can find true shelter from whatever storms may surround us. It declares, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." This loving God is the actual foundation of the order we seek. He is with us now and with all those who are in trouble. And our prayers can help us to see the tangible, healing presence of God right where storm and devastation seem to be uppermost.

Mrs. Eddy gives us in Science and Health an explanation of God that can bring new inspiration to our prayers. In response to the question "What is God?" Mrs. Eddy writes: "God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love."

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