'To Bless All Mankind' August 15, 2016 ISSUE

Home—the kingdom of heaven within

Allison Rose-Sonnesyn

Originally published in The Christian Science Monitor, June 6, 2016.

The first refugee Olympic team, the topic of the article on the facing page, is an inspiration for stateless people everywhere. It has reminded me of my own earnest prayers about belonging. I remember one morning, when I stood by a lake in the Russian countryside far from home, I prayed to feel a sense of God’s presence with me there. My prayer was answered with this idea: “The kingdom of heaven has no borders.”

In that moment, I realized that I was not separated from God’s care or the true sense of home. My study of Christian Science had shown me that the kingdom of heaven is not a physical location, but God’s infinite and permanent rule of harmony, which can be experienced wherever we are. I saw that everyone has the ability to experience God’s goodness, love, and supply, here and now.

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