I believe in the popular sayings "Love conquers all" and "Love can move mountains."

I think of them as practical solutions to problems among my fellow citizens here in the Philippines. Many people don't fully appreciate the good that's here, and so they find it hard to love their country and to expect good to come from it—and to it. The fact that we live in a democracy and thus are free to vote may be so routine that people don't realize how special this is.

Our quality of life has improved through modern advances such as television, washing machines, refrigerators, and so forth. But sometimes people get in the mode of complaining, feeling envious if people they know are able to go abroad. So many people do their best to get out of the country instead of valuing it and working for its improvement.

And there is plenty that needs improvement. Here in the Philippines we need to deal with the dishonesty in government, the nepotism (not what you know but whom you know is the key to getting a good job). Even in the office where I work, relatives of big bosses sometimes can easily get a position and a promotion—instead of the individuals who are better qualified for it.

One thing I've learned, through Christian Science, is that no matter what the situation is, if we are willing to trust divine Love and to express love to others, we can overcome all difficulties, whether these are as simple as waiting patiently for public transportation after work or dealing with corruption in government. Nothing is impossible with God, divine Love.

I have seen this myself in both work and transportation issues. And I've found that my attitude toward my country and my fellow citizens has changed as I've come to understand some spiritual truths.

Since all is good, in reality there is no such thing as a bad person or a bad country. Economics, politics, and other forms of human education may try to tell us that these things are possible, but these theories are lies about the spiritual nature of God's man—both male and female—and really, about God Himself. Since God made all good, bad has no origin or existence.

Many times reports about the Philippines show only slum areas, and because of negative attitudes about Filipinos, people in other countries are reluctant to give them tourist visas. They think that my fellow citizens will become illegal immigrants. This is frustrating for those of us who love our country, and in my prayers I make a point of embracing my fellow citizens, affirming that they are honest, industrious, compassionate, disciplined people, because they are the children of God, good. If we all pray in this way about people in our individual countries and the world—and refuse to accept any other possibility—we will have the strength to stand up to anything that argues against goodness.

And with this spiritual attitude, our own expectations will change. Instead of giving in to judging others or to dishonest behavior, we'll require more of ourselves and others. Such prayer will eliminate dishonesty, greed, and laziness.

When a relative of mine returned from a visit to the United States, he said that God was there—and he wasn't joking. He felt that God was in the US, but He wasn't in the Philippines. I wonder how many other people think that about their countries?

How grateful I am to learn that God is everywhere. He occupies all space. God is in the Philippines, and everywhere else, too! Therefore, God's laws of abundance, harmony, and equality are also here. But we cannot experience divine abundance if we believe that God is only in America, Australia, or England. Our prayers need to affirm that everyone has access to God.

Since God is infinite, nobody and nothing can be absent from His sight. It's impossible for a god who is Love to take care of some and neglect others. And because God is infinite, progress, as a law of God, is infinitely present. God provides for each of us in just the way we, and our nations, need. We all have God's gift of progress.

These ideas have helped me see the naturalness of loving the Philippines and my fellow Filipinos. And this spiritual approach can help us, as a nation, better understand the spiritual basis for who we are and what our country is. Loving becomes easy because we feel God's power behind it. And of course, as people in other countries see their spiritual identity more clearly, they will be blessed, too.

In her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy wrote, "Love enriches the nature, enlarging, purifying, and elevating it" (p.57).

Our natures are enriched as we embrace the spiritual qualities that lead to gratitude for the many blessings we receive from God. To let our natures be enriched by God's love is to turn away from complaint and focus on good. As our hearts are enlarged, our love, hope, and prayers for our country grow stronger. We're less likely to get absorbed in petty personal issues that can stall progress.

This is where elevating our view is essential. If we believe we are helpless, hopeless, and poor, it's harder to make progress. But if we see our situation in spiritual terms—that we are abundantly loved by God—we will also see our real, spiritual wealth, and make steady progress.

I realize this may not happen all at once. But I love what Mrs. Eddy wrote in Science and Health: "In patient obedience to a patient God, let us labor to dissolve with the universal solvent of Love the adamant of error,—self-will, self-justification, and self-love,—which wars against spirituality and is the law of sin and death" (p. 242).

When we strive to look outside our individual needs—to really love our country and the world—our love is empowered by divine Love. This love dissolves the obstacles that would keep us from making progress. It opens our eyes to see and recognize good.

Through Love, we can diligently pray and prove that stability, peace, and progress are possible. It keeps us ready to help others and to initiate activities that let love grow.

With Love's power and direction, we can make progress. Let us stay in harmony with divine Love always, so that we will be filled with joy, discipline, hope, honesty, and kindness. |CSS

You can explore more spiritual solutions to poverty at www.spirituality.com/poverty/.