Article August 29, 2016 Issue

Dominion over adverse conditions

Prudence Carr

Last fall, out-of-control wildfires throughout California brought firefighters from as far away as Australia and occupied the news for months. The “Rough Fire,” west of the local Sierra Nevada Mountains, continued unconfined for weeks. During this time winds blew the smoke eastward over the mountains, and the air became trapped in the Owens Valley, where I live. Unhealthy air quality was reported locally for over a month. Everywhere I went, people expressed fear that it was, or was sure to be, affecting them adversely.

Having experienced healing of spider bites, colds, flu, back pain, and arthritis through Christian Science in the several years since it was introduced to me, I knew the importance of guarding my thought against fear and images of suffering. I reminded myself of Mary Baker Eddy’s counsel in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously” (p. 392).

When the source of the air pollution was first identified as the huge fires all over California, I joined the many others who were praying for an end to the fires and the bad air quality. My prayers for all embraced the spiritual truths I had learned through my study of Christian Science and that I was applying in caring for myself. I affirmed that my true being is the spiritual reflection of God, Spirit, and that I could not therefore be harmfully affected by material conditions. I knew this was true for everyone.

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