Praying for Afghanistan, continued

The praying for Afghanistan continues. As it does for other parts of the world - or of your world, for that matter. There is only one world, and in a very real way what matters to one matters to all. Spiritual development and human progress show increasingly the oneness of being and this is a great incentive to be involved. There is something we can do and it is more than just being glued to our smartphones or TV sets. We can pray and be of help to others.

What this praying for Afghanistan does is to help establish God's new world (as some new translations call "the kingdom of God" as it was introduced by Christ Jesus almost 2000 years ago). This new world is the world we are all working for, I am working for.  This is what a healing practice is all about. The main focus in my work has been and always will be to alleviate fear. Christ Jesus introduced for the first time in history a way to live without fear and this freedom from fear comes from the total surrender to divine Love. Fearlessness is a key element in God's world and praying is the way to demonstrate the reality of God's world - Christ's kingdom on the earth. 

Mary Baker Eddy singles out two wonderful and rare qualities that are essential in this work: Modesty and distinguishing affection. If we polish and love and cherish those qualities we are truly worthy to be called workers in this Christlike project of establishing the new world order - the world of divine Love, the world of dignity, equality, freedom, togetherness - the world of God.

Mary Baker Eddy writes:

I am persuaded that only by the modesty and distinguishing affection illustrated in Jesus' career, can Christian Scientists aid the establishment of Christ's kingdom on the earth.
(Retrospection and Introspection, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 94)

Any peacebuilding effort, any apathy overcome, any egotism renounced, any self-centered thought truly confronted in our own consciousness, is demonstrating Christ's kingdom on the earth. Any attempt to follow our wonderful Master especially when it seems difficult or even futile is demonstrating Christ's kingdom on the earth. Overcoming little distractions and setting private analysis of humanity aside by patiently and faithfully surrendering to divine Love, day after day after day: That is demonstrating Christ's kingdom on the earth. Not only in Afghanistan, but also there. No one is left out.

An article by Barbara Cook Spencer gives us food for thought - expressing "modesty and distinguishing affection" in a special and warmhearted way. You find the article "How are you praying for Afghanistan?" here. If you don't have a subscription to the JSH-Online Website you can still read this article. But consider a subscription. It supports the peace-building and healing efforts of The Mother Church - in my humble view the most selfless and caring institution on earth.