When I moved into temporary accommodation from a house I had lived in for over twenty years, I suddenly began to experience feelings of homesickness, loss, and deep regret for having made the decision to leave. At times, this felt overwhelming. I didn’t know how and when I would find a more permanent home. While I knew through my study of Christian Science that I could rely on God’s good plan, I also knew I had to better grasp this concept.
Although I was living in the center of town, I was close to a gate that led to what I named “the woodland walk.” It had a winding path and there were wildflowers growing all around—bluebells, buttercups, daisies, primroses, and violets, to name a few. There were robins, greenfinches, blackbirds, wrens, all singing their own song, yet in harmony together. I often stood and wondered at all this natural beauty, how all the wildflowers were being taken care of by divine Mind, God, and all the birds were free and individually perfect expressions of Mind.
Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, had a great appreciation of beauty and nature which she expressed so eloquently in her writings. On my walks I had reason to think more deeply about something she wrote on page 240 of the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “Nature voices natural, spiritual law and divine Love. . . .” I was finding so many sweet confirmations of Love’s presence. What came to me was how important it is to notice spiritual concepts in things around us through spiritual sense, which is “a conscious, constant capacity to understand God” (Science and Health, p. 209). I’m learning this more and more, and now take the care (and the time) to do so. Looking “out and up” is a good way of describing this. It was another wonderful reminder to, as a dear Christian Science practitioner once told me, “Keep your vision high.”
