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Addressing the threat of forest fires
As I prepared for a trip last summer, I wondered if it was prudent to drive into areas where the fire danger was posted as high. Even in my home state of Oregon, a forest fire had been burning for many weeks and was still being reported as zero percent contained. There was definitely an element of fear and worry involved in planning my trip.
I thought back to a forest fire that had burned across southern Oregon in 2002. While firefighters from around the world worked tirelessly to contain the blaze, our Christian Science branch church decided to do a round-the-clock prayer watch with volunteers taking turns praying for two hours at a time. The experience really brought home to me that we can do our part in helping during times of trouble through prayer.
I still remember some of the comforting ideas I heard from the “still small voice” (I Kings 19:12) during my first watch in the middle of the night. They all centered on divine Love: Love “turneth away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1); “... Love fill[s] all space” (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 520). It was clear to me that there can be no other presence or power apart from God; no place outside divine Love’s care and control; no place for error to go or spread or build. Since divine Love is the only presence, there is nothing to feed or fan a destructive fire. In fact, fan is the “separator of fable from fact; …” (Science and Health, p. 586). Elsewhere, Mrs. Eddy adds: “The human mind will sometime rise above all material and physical sense, exchanging it for spiritual perception, and exchanging human concepts for the divine consciousness. Then man will recognize his God-given dominion and being” (Science and Health, p. 531).
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
July 7, 2014 issue
View Issue-
Letters
Lillian Dewey, Kristin Jamerson, Fenella Watson
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Praying for 'perfect peace'
Don Alusic
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Virtual reality
Paul Gutelius
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Always in God's presence
Janet Wenrick
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Discovering what's real
Mark Catlin
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Addressing the threat of forest fires
Paula Broock
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Communion
Lynne Cook
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Active participation, active love
Kathy Fitzer
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New inspiration—and healing!
Cindi Price
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The gift of forgiveness
Kim Shippey
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'Rock the ice!'
Ricky
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Reading the Word brings liberty
Heather Bauer with contributions from Robert Allen Bauer
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Rheumatism healed, mobility restored
Daniel Balif Munga
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Pet's history overcome
Shelly Richardson
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'Pure joy' replaces pain
Sylvia Hofflund
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Not impressed by symptoms
Janet Dillingham
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Freedom and healing
The Editors