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Solutions to the Gulf oil spill? God’s too big to fail!
Originally appeared on spirituality.com
If you’ve been following the headlines throughout the economic crisis and recovery, particularly in the United States, you’ve likely heard the phrase “too big to fail.” Regardless of the industry, many are wondering whether it’s wise for crucial institutions to grow so large that their failure would be debilitating to society. Recently, however, I stumbled across the phrase while reading the newspaper, and it took on new meaning. No sooner had I read “too big to fail” than the inspired thought popped into my consciousness: “Truly, God is too big to fail!”
This spiritual twist on “too big to fail” couldn’t have come at a better time. Coverage of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues to report dire predictions as to the long-term impact of an environmental crisis of this magnitude. The situation requires urgent attention and improvement, but few are confident in the availability of solutions to adequately contain and fix the problem.
The bleak circumstances give little reason for optimism or hope, but prayer in Christian Science offers a different perspective.
As I’ve prayed about the oil spill, I’ve continued to think more deeply about this idea that, truly, “God is too big to fail!” It’s not that God is huge in size, but that God is infinite, the only presence, the only power, and the only activity—everywhere. This leaves no room for accidents, reckless behavior, or dangerous situations. God’s mercy and goodness cannot fail because God is All-in-all, and there is, as the Bible says, “none else.”
In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy offers seven synonyms for God: Life, Truth, Love, Principle, Soul, Spirit, and Mind. Each of these synonyms highlights the presence and power of a God who truly cannot fail in the Gulf Coast. For example. . . .
- Love adores each and every object in its creation. The animals, the vegetation, the individuals who live on the Gulf Coast are abundantly cared for by this Love—with no gap or delay in its provisions.
- Mind is infinite—the right intelligence and wisdom both to find a solution for the oil spill and to prevent future problems is available to everyone who needs it, when it is needed.
- The beauty and harmony of Soul cannot fail. Soul cannot be polluted.
- Spirit is all and the only substance. Oil cannot mix with and contaminate a spiritual idea.
- The order of Principle is unchanging, governing before, during, and after a crisis.
- The only Life—the only cause, activity, and being--is God expressing good. This fact precludes disasters such as the spill.
- Truth, the reality of infinite Good, is constant. Nothing can change, disrupt, or threaten the allness of Truth.
This prayer is not a pleading or positive thinking; it is the honest desire to understand God better, to understand spiritual reality, and to affirm the power and presence of God in our lives.
As each one of us strives to clear away what’s polluting our own thought about the situation—be it fear, blame, dismay, etc.—then we’re doing our part to clean up. And as we do, our thoughts will open to see the presence and power of God in action in the Gulf Coast, with right solutions and forward progress.
By clearing away mental sludge, we’re opening our eyes to see that, truly, God is too big to fail in the Gulf Coast and beyond.