Have you ever felt stuck in a situation where there seemed no way out? Where you felt imprisoned by impassable barriers of personal relations and responsibilities?

The Israelites, enslaved in Egypt many long years, must have felt hopelessly trapped. But there was a way to freedom, and it took only one man with spiritual vision to find it. Moses had an earnest love for his people. By patiently listening to and obeying God, he discerned how to lead them out of bondage. He looked above and beyond the hopelessness the human scene presented. When he did this, he heard God speak to him. And that same God directed and protected every step of his way as he guided the Israelites to freedom, even parting the waters when he came to the impassable Red Sea.

Spiritual vision was also what brought unlimited good into Abram's life when strife between their herdsmen caused him and his nephew Lot to divide their land between them and part company (see Gen., chap. 13). Abram offered Lot first choice of the land. Then God said to Abram: "Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever" (verses 14, 15).

By instructing Abram to lift up his eyes, wasn't God guiding him to look away from the old view of where he was to an unlimited spiritual view of good? All the land—all the good—that Abram had the vision to see was his. And that land turned out to be far superior to that which Lot had chosen.

Freedom is God's law. Suffering and slavery are not God's will. As we turn from believing that some person or situation can restrict or imprison us, and as we open our heart and mind to see spiritually the infinite resources God has provided for man, we obtain our freedom. We progress according to our unfolding spiritual vision—according to how far we can "see."

God gives us the inspiration to discern the truth about every painful or unhappy situation we might find ourselves or others in. To visualize something is to make it "become visible." But we need to turn away from the outward picture to the truth concerning it, as Jesus did. He knew that God's creation was spiritual and allharmonious, good and holy, and that since this was the only creation there was, this harmony must be present right where difficulties appeared to be. Through Jesus' spiritual vision, harmony became visible and tangible. Healing occurred.

I once had my own Red Sea experience. When we were first married, my husband obtained a position in a small country town in another state, very far removed from everything and everyone I knew and loved.

I had been brought up in the city and had just completed Sunday School. I found becoming oriented to a remote, small town very difficult. The people seemed to be in the dark ages as to their knowledge of many things, including spiritual healing. Christian Science in that community was misunderstood and misjudged. The Christian Science Society was up a steep stairway over the five-and-dime store, in a little room with one light bulb hanging from the ceiling over the Readers' desk. Shortly after we moved there, one woman in town was heard to remark, "Don't tell me she's going to that church!"

In this society I worked with all my heart, doing every job from janitor and painter, to First Reader, soloist, Sunday School teacher—you name it. Actually, I think the little society saved me. It strengthened my faith in God and tested my commitment to Him.

Even within the membership, there seemed to be a constant battle against every step of progress. I worked many hours preparing for meetings where not even one member showed up. There were tears of discouragement, but Love always won out, progress did appear. For the first time in nine years the society presented a Christian Science lecture to the public; the audience overflowed the largest church in town. I saw the society steadily grow until the members had a pleasant lot of land and plans for a church building.

For many reasons, it still seemed very hard to be truly happy in that location, yet I felt so helpless ever to escape. I was bringing up our two children there, and it was far removed from what I had hoped for them. The long, bitter cold winters didn't help. But my husband was firmly established as manager for the family's business, and we lived in a house provided by his family, who lived next door. The ties and commitments seemed impossible to break away from.

In my tenth year there, I returned for a visit to the city where I had been brought up. It seemed so wonderful to be "home" again! The night before I had to leave, I turned yearningly to God. I could hardly bear the thought of going back to that small town. I recalled a verse from a loved hymn:

I had learned earlier that pushing our desires never turns out as happily as yielding to God's will, and I knew that His will for His children was always the highest good. So I prayed, putting my times in God's hands, seeking His direction.

An angel message came to me: Why do you think you must go back and stay in that location the rest of your life? And I reasoned: Yes, why? Is it because you think the only job in the world for your husband is this one? Do you feel obligated to stay because you can't see beyond the human scene? Are you afraid that you couldn't survive if you displeased relatives and left a home and a business?

I suddenly realized that, like Abram, I should lift up my eyes, my spiritual vision, and "look from the place" where I was and see that God could and would provide for me, loved ones, and all.

The truth about home is that it is not actually a material place but a spiritual state of consciousness. Home is the consciousness of dwelling in God, divine Love. The loveliness, completeness, comfort, and happiness that we connect with home are spiritual qualities that belong to us inherently as God's children, and they can be manifested in our experience wherever we go.

With renewed inspiration I saw that I should go forth with faith in divine Love's guidance and provision, trusting my spiritual vision. I was filled with joyous anticipation. I knew I was free to go! I didn't know then just how or when, but I knew I was free. This message in Science and Health encouraged me: "Working and praying with true motives, your Father will open the way" (p. 326).

When I returned, I excitedly told my husband that we should leave for greener pastures and new adventures. It turned out he was as happy as I over the prospect. In one month, we were packed and on our way to another state, where we found a wonderful house and a new life. My husband had been made sales representative for the family's business in the new location. We faced challenges, of course, but it was great to be freed from believing that we could be forever bound by material circumstances. There is always that rousing cry that God gave Moses at the apparently hopeless impasse by the Red Sea: "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward" (Ex. 14:15).

Surely this speaks to us all, telling us never to remain static or to give up, but to move forward—and God will be there for us. Of course, progress won't always entail a change of location as it did in my situation, but it does require a changed, more spiritual vision. And it takes courage and trust in His omnipotence. Who could ever have outlined or imagined the solution God came up with at the Red Sea? And who can ever outline what good God has in store for you? "Lift up now thine eyes"!