Real estate realizations

In my career as a realtor, I’ve had many opportunities to witness the guidance, dependability, and constancy of God’s gracious “housing.” Changing circumstances recently required the downsizing of my own home and the sale of two properties. Our local housing market was declining and sluggish, and mortgage funding was scarce. Buyers were few and far between.

But I’ve found that prayer can show us a path for reversing the intimidation of negative scenarios, helping refocus our sights on the spiritual realm of ordered calm. In the words of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, “Through divine Science man gains the power to become the son of God, to recognize his perfect and eternal estate” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 182 ). 

In spite of rampant foreclosures and a tumultuous housing market, man’s “real estate” remains forever safe and permanent. It can’t be disrupted or imperiled by economic downdrafts or natural disasters. No one can ever be dislodged from his or her divinely appointed niche or true sense of home. Each individual has a unique role to fill, and that role carries with it the inspiration and means for its harmonious fulfillment.

In this prayer-revealed “perfect and eternal estate,” we can claim our safety as God’s beloved sons and daughters, forever guided by His infinite wisdom, amply provided for, and tenderly shepherded home. Our prayers lift us above fear and outlining, keeping thought open to an influx of fresh inspiration and unexpected resolutions. If stymied by an apparent impasse, we can turn the dilemma over to divine Mind, trusting that Mind is able to meet our present need perfectly , as well as the needs of potential home buyers.

As Jesus promised centuries ago: “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 ). 

About three years ago, well into the mortgage market crash, I found myself alone in a way-too-big-for me country home. The acreage required constant maintenance and irrigation—chores which kept me home-bound through the summer months, restricting my availability at work. As the property demands escalated, I prayed to be able to mentally release this lovely place. This in itself required a major readjustment of thought, as I loved the home and had become very attached to it. But I was sure God did not intend for me to be enslaved to a property or deprived of rightful activities.

As I continued to pray, an opportunity opened up unexpectedly to acquire a smaller property with good “fix-up” potential. I was not sure how this would resolve my present dilemma, but the intuition was so strong that I felt led to act on it. I moved into the smaller home during my remodeling work, and attempted to lease out the larger home. Yet in spite of strong advertising, the larger home remained vacant. I began to feel very pressured financially because I was paying for two mortgages. Some piece of the puzzle still seemed to be missing. I humbly asked God if He was providing another avenue that I was not seeing. 

One morning as I was immersed in my daily studies of the Christian Science Bible Lesson, God gently reminded me that during an earlier attempt to sell the large home, a young woman had come to me with an unusual proposition. She had loved my home. Would I consider trading it for her smaller in-town home? 

God did not intend for me to be enslaved to a property or deprived of rightful activities.

I had not taken her offer seriously at that time, but now I felt directed to go back and talk to her again. Yes, a year and a half later, she was still interested. And as it turned out, she operated a lawn care business and had a teenage son to assist her, so she was well equipped to manage the large country property. When she showed me her “in-town” home, it was absolutely perfect for me. She offered me her home plus some additional cash to make up the difference between the two properties. There would be no need for either of us to find or obtain a mortgage. Within a couple of months, the trade sales were accomplished harmoniously. And with the extra cash, I was able to acquire the in-town exchange home, mortgage-free. While I continued to live in my small “fixer-upper” house, some tenants promptly appeared to rent the newly acquired “in-town” home. 

Months of property listings, marketing, showings, and negotiations could not have accomplished so smooth a transfer. Although both the buyer and I had previously taken some exploratory footsteps, this time the angel idea, received directly through prayer, prompted the final resolution, with a perfect synchronicity that blessed us both. And after renting out the “in-town” home for a year, I was finally able to move into it—affording me a place close to downtown amenities, with more time freed up for church work and other creative endeavors.

The smooth sale of the fixer-upper was an answer to prayer, as well. After completing its renovation, I prayed for God’s guidance. A Christian Science practitioner once told me that a key element in trying to sell a home was to “love your buyer.” Who was it out there who needed the love and efforts I had poured into this little place, and how could I help them move into it? 

While I was getting my teeth cleaned one afternoon, my dental hygienist asked if I might know of a home she could rent. She needed something almost immediately. I invited her to come look at my small fixed-up property. I was so grateful to be listening for the one Mind’s orchestration. To make a long story short, my dental hygienist started off renting and eventually was able to buy it. 

I am still in awe of how this all worked out. But why should I be? This is how God works—through amazing grace. Mary Baker Eddy wrote in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “In the scientific relation of God to man, we find that whatever blesses one blesses all, as Jesus showed with the loaves and the fishes,—Spirit, not matter, being the source of supply” (p. 206 ).

Christian Science nudges us beyond our fears and the perplexity over how things ought to work out, so that we can hear God’s unencumbered action plan more clearly. In my own situation, studying the Christian Science Bible Lesson provided fresh daily uplift, silencing dead-end thinking, and opening my thought to God’s infinite possibilities. The prayerful support of a Christian Science practitioner helped erase my fears and boosted my confidence and trust. And reading testimonies of others’ healings in the Christian Science periodicals brought continued inspiration and hope.

When God directs us to move, He always provides a perfect-for-right-now niche. Whatever the scenario playing out before us, we can find peace and security by placing ourselves under the umbrella of divine Love’s tender shepherding care. Christian Science “shows man that his real estate is one of blessedness” (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 41 ).