Go out

Not Mount Sinai - the Lighthouse in Bar Harbor in Acadia National Park, Maine, USA

I read and study the Bible every day. Part of my study is the One Year Bible, a Bible that accompanies throughout the year and gives me portions to study and ponder every day. This morning the study program for today included a passage from the Hebrew Bible, a portion of the 19th chapter of the First Book of Kings. It relates the story of Elijah's attempt to convince the people of Israel to leave the adoration of Baal behind and turn to the living God. Because he is being pursued by killers, he flees into the wilderness and breaks down under a tree and in the course of events finds eventually the strength to walk forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai. He arrives and finds a cave in which he rests another night. It is in this cave that Elijah pours out his woes and sadness and frustration to God. Finally Elijah is able to leave the cave, stand upright and encounter God's tender love as "the sound of a gentle whisper". (1 Kings 19:12. NLT - other translations have "a still small voice" or "a still and soft voice" or "a hissing of thin wind, breathing softly").

It occurred to me this morning how relevant this story is for the healing practice of Christian Science, how relevant this story is for me. Because I noticed as never before God's response to Elijah's tale of unsurmountable problems, his description of the dangerous and entangled and lonely situation he finds himself in. God does not comment, God does not analyse, God demands and commands:

"Go out and stand before me on the mountain." (1 Kings 19: 11)

I could see that this call applies to all of us, right now. Whether we find ourselves in physical pain, a difficult or even impossible family situation, a crumbling support system, a seemingly endless string of problems, antagonism and/or a lack of understanding by others about who we are, this call applies: "Go out". Leave this scenario behind and see that this is not who God is and who you are. Stop standing before the world: Stand before God on the mountain. Elevate and lift consciousness and stand upright, accepting Mind as the only consciousness and power there is.

A lovely hymn gives these words:

Go forth and stand upon the mount,
For Truth is at thy side;
The very rocks may seem to break,
And earth to open wide;
Yet error's tempest and its fire
Before that still small voice retire.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 74:1)

I prayed with this insight all morning, it brought already healing --- and I expect more to come. Anyone can follow this command and "Go out" and find the peace and calm of the stillness of God already present.

"Go out and stand before me on the mountain." (1 Kings 19:11)