Michael, my 'angel'
I was sitting on a bus one day pondering angels. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy defines angels as “God’s representatives” (p. 299 ) and “God’s thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect; …” (p. 581 ).
On this day, specifically, I was reading from Science and Health about the angel Michael. Michael and Gabriel are two angels described in the Bible—angels with different but equally important tasks.
As Eddy describes, “Michael’s characteristic is spiritual strength,” and so this angel messenger fights for us when we find we’re in trouble (p. 566 ). As I sat there, I recalled an article I had read in the Sentinel about a family that got lost while hiking (see Sharon McNott, “High on the mesa with our angel,” April 12, 2010). The grandmother had prayed for a clear message, or angel, to come their way. Soon, a man appeared on the trail to lead them to safety, and the family rejoiced. Right before they parted ways, they found out that the man’s name was Gabriel! They saw this as a clear sign of God’s constant care. In Science and Health Gabriel is described as having “the more quiet task of imparting a sense of the ever-presence of ministering Love” (p. 567 ). The page goes on to talk of the jobs of both Michael and Gabriel: “These angels deliver us from the depths.”
I never needed to be afraid of sharing my religion.
That morning on the bus, I felt lost down a path of worry. I had just spent a week working at a summer camp for Christian Scientists, and it was a blessed experience. But now, I was on my way to reconnect with a group of girlfriends for a weekend getaway. None was a Christian Scientist, and while we had spent almost every day together for a year of intense schoolteacher training, I had never had the courage to talk to them about my religion. Two of them belonged to religions that can be antagonistic toward Christian Science. I had endeavored during our training time to live my love for God and follow Jesus’ example, but always felt as if I should at some point be completely honest with my friends about being a Christian Scientist. I knew there would be questions about the summer camp I was coming from, and I was worried they wouldn’t respond well to what I had to say.
I began to think of myself as in the care of angels. I knew the care that encircled the lost family in the Sentinel article—the care that came through angel thoughts—was meant for us all. I felt a deep sense of calm and knew that all was well and that only good, God, existed.
Directly after this calm moment, the bus driver’s voice came over the speaker system. He welcomed us on board. He also did something that many bus drivers don’t always do. He mentioned his name. It was … Michael! I felt the thrill of this symbolic proof that God’s grace was actually there with me. It felt as though God was saying directly to me, “You need an angel message—you’ve got it!” Most important, I lost the fear of talking with my friends about Christian Science. God would be there with me to give me strength when I shared my faith.
That evening, after having a wonderful time rejoicing over the goodness shown in my friends, the topic of where I had been working came up. I found the words coming out of my mouth about what Christian Science was, and why healing prayer is an important part of my life. Interestingly, my friends mentioned how, before I arrived, they’d had a discussion with another friend about her religion, and they all found it to be productive and eye-opening. They were already prepared to be receptive to what I was saying because of that earlier conversation.
My friends appreciated the ideas that I shared, but during our conversation I felt so thankful for my daily study of Christian Science. I realized that I never needed to be afraid of sharing about my religion, since I already was sharing it every day, just by how I live my life! Christ Jesus’ emphasis on works instead of mere words (see John 14:12 ) was deeply impressed on me. And whenever I think about that bus ride, I smile because of God’s great and tender closeness. It’s easy to share what we love, when we feel loved.