As I watched the news about Hurricane Ian that just lately hit Florida, I used to be reminded of an expertise I had whereas dwelling in Boston years in the past.
My husband and I had bought our first residence – a two-level apartment in the Back Bay space of the metropolis. One summer season evening, there was a terrific rainstorm that hit the metropolis, and the downpour was torrential.
About 3 in the morning, we have been woke up to the sound of issues crashing round in the front room under our bed room. It quickly grew to become obvious that there was over 4 toes of water in our decrease dwelling space, and nearly the whole lot we owned was floating or underwater.
The following day, we realized that the total Back Bay space of the metropolis had been flooded as a result of of {an electrical} failure that triggered metropolis water pumps to cease. The subsequent day revealed a scene of hundreds of people attempting to recuperate and salvage their belongings.
This storm was clearly nothing like Ian however I discover similarities in how people seen the restoration efforts. The spirit of love — neighbor serving to neighbor — was in full movement.
Instead of destruction, I started to see the spirit of brother and sisterhood, and a standard goal to stand up and persevere. Most touchingly, I noticed people assembly one another for the first time and having considerate conversations.
It was an entire new view – and it was one which supplied promise as a substitute of despair. I felt and noticed Spirit, one other identify for God, or divine love, in motion over these subsequent few months.
We by no means misplaced something of actual worth – our love for one another, our sense of residence or our neighborliness. We nonetheless had our intelligence, creativity, goodness, integrity, pleasure and peace. These God-like qualities are with everybody all the time, exhibiting us that God is ever current to revive and renew.
Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science, wrote in her major work, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” “Who that has felt the loss of human peace has not gained stronger desires for spiritual joy? … The loss of earthly hopes and pleasures brightens the ascending path of many a heart” (p. 265).
Divine love is highly effective – infinitely extra highly effective than a hurricane. As kids of divine love, which we actually all are, we dwell in the consciousness of love the place our true identification, which is religious, stays undamaged by materials circumstances.
It’s the scene behind the scene that offers us an uplifted view. This religious view is revealed to us by way of God’s grace – and it’s revealed to every particular person in simply the proper manner. It is what in the end brings about therapeutic.
A Bible passage from the Old Testament reads, “And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” (I Kings 19:11, 12).
The nonetheless small voice of Spirit, love, is talking to every of us in simply the proper manner.
This is what strikes us out of concern and oppression. It’s what picks us up, propels us ahead, strengthens our steps — and rebuilds our lives. This is how I’m praying for the people in Florida.
Katie Martin lives on Plum Island and is a member of the Christian Science church in Newburyport.