Are you looking for the open door

December 29, 2023 | 58 comments

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.

~ Helen Keller

58 thoughts on “Are you looking for the open door”

    1. Thank you Ken for your inspiring poem for the New Year. Thank you Evan for sharing your inspiration throughout the year!

    2. Thank you Ken—a beautiful way to expand the thinking of an open door to God. I especially like the idea of the open door always being only one step away, no matter what the circumstances.

  1. Hmm good point! And I guess looking at the closed door instead of opening the other one would help too! ” Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you”

  2. Dear Evan and friends,
    This is all so helpful especially now. Thank you for taking the time to share!
    Gratefully,
    Jacqueline

  3. God’s supply of good for us is unlimited. When we come to the end of a
    happy experience, it may be tempting to feel that there is nothing to look forward
    to, and we may lapse into gloom. We must not look longingly back, but as we are
    grateful for that happy experience we have just had, we can know that God has
    opened a new door of happiness for us – fresh,
    new, and full of interest and joy. That door is open to more light and happiness.
    and invites us to enter a new experience.

    The old vinyl records would sometimes get a scratch, and would go round and
    round on the same groove – which is very boring. In order to be free from the
    boredom of listening to the same passages over and over again,, we had to lift
    up the needle and move it onto another groove further forward.
    So we must look to be forever moving forward, towards new views which God is
    unfolding for us. I believe they get better and better into eternity.
    So let’s keep the door of our consciousness forever expectant of more
    and more open doors to explore.

    1. Thank you Maggie for this nudge. It’s a great illustration to move the needle and not keep repeating, repeating & repeating.… stuck in the groove. Old messages constantly bombarding consciousness, do not open the door. And doors are always there irregardless of age or situation. Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it… with God all things possible. I’m grateful for this forum, and its contributors.

      1. Thank you Jeanne and Maggie,
        I echo your thoughts on this, having experienced this Truth. Thanks Evan again for another great subject.

    2. Thank you Maggie for this nudge. It’s a great illustration to move the needle and not keep repeating, repeating & repeating.… stuck in the groove. Old messages constantly bombarding consciousness, do not open the door. And doors are always there irregardless of age or situation. Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it… with God all things possible. I’m grateful for this forum, and its contributors.

      1. Thank you Maggie & Jeanne. I love these thoughts! I often think of what John Qualtrough (thank you John!) mentioned in a previous SpiritView: “mortal mind/carnal mind rehearses and the Christ reverses.”

    3. Maggie I agree with your sentiments. Error always wants to paint a fearful or unhappy picture when something good seems to end. But our good is continuing, uninterrupted, from God, though it may appear to take a new form.

      Getting out of the old negative mental grooves of wrong thinking is important. We can pray and have the expectancy of good; that is our divine right.

      Thanks Evan for the Helen Keller quote. What an amazing woman, she always spoke very high spiritual truths. I read that she was a strong follower of the Christian Swedenborg faith and wrote a book about her spiritual beliefs called My Religion.

      1. I love what you wrote, Rose, .. “Getting out of the old negative mental grooves
        of wrong thinking is important. We can pray and have the expectancy of good;
        that is our divine right”. How true and …

        “Until God opens the next door, Praise Him in the hallway.” – Author Unknown
        : )

        1. Carol I’m glad you found my comment helpful. I also love the quote you shared, “Until God opens the next door, praise Him in the hallway.” Beautiful, that is a great way to demonstrate our faith, by continuing to praise God and remain joyful and “prayed up” while in that special time of waiting for His next inspirations, instructions and unfoldings.

          1. Yes, Rose, and I recently heard an entrepreneur with talking
            about his products and also the path he is on to help make
            the world a better place … To get a better output , you need
            to have a good/better input. That is true spiritually also, isn’t it…
            What we think in our heart, so are we. What we put into our
            Soul of thought, we express in wonderful ways as God’s
            representatives of Truth.

  4. A new material ‘open door’,may well bring happiness and pleasure …if only in the short term. But to open a new door of spiritual understanding will always bring more inspiration, more understanding and awareness of our hand in `Gods hand.❣️

    1. I love that, BarbaraUK. It is the opening of our spiritual understanding that brings the desired outcome. What a special thing it is to become aware “of our hand in `Gods hand”.

      Thank you Evan for your continued support and inspiration and all contributors. We are indeed blessed with this blog and Christian Science. A Happy New Year to all.

      1. Hi Pat. This was always something my Mother said to me , especially facing situations like exam rooms when you could feel alone ….no talking or inter reaction situations etc…
        She’d say that God is always holding my hand ! Instant comfort. B.x

        1. I love that Barbara! The expression .. “on the one hand, but
          then again on the other hand” … usually connotates a different
          viewpoint, but with God/Love/Spirit/Mind/Soul/Principle/Life
          and Truth, it is comforting and felt on Both hands, because
          warmly and gently led by God’s spiritual direction, we are One
          with His/Her complete Being. And what a lovely, divine soothing
          and contenting assurance that God’s Love is always with us.

  5. And Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health – “Each successive stage of experience unfolds new views of divine goodness and love” which came to my thought while reading today’s SV.

  6. Helen Keller had spiritual insights that many had not been “seeing” mortally. Thank you,
    Evan, for sharing this one. Sometimes change is not easy, as we are used to the familiar
    and change can sometimes seem scary or anxious thoughts can seem to rule over what
    God has planned for us. Sometimes we are forced into new situations which turn out to
    be the very best, but at the time, seem unnerving and we become hesitant, understandably,
    (humanly thinking).
    mortal mind would go along with fears, but Trust in God is what is always needed,
    especially in these times.
    In the words of Theo Ficco, “God knows best and many times we often look at closed
    doors before us not noticing the new open door for us. What will be will be…”
    God’s plan for us always outshines whatever we may seem to be seeing with our limited
    vision.

  7. This message from Evan, spoke volumes to me this morning. Ken-the poem you shared was crystal clear. “I can!”
    The analogy of the scratchy, broken record is powerful. When tempted to rehearse error, move the needle.
    Thanks for lighting my day.

    1. Thank you dear “J” for these 2 articles from the Sentinel you gave us the link to. I enjoyed listening to both articles. But for me listening is not enough, though. I need to read these excellent articles more deeper, more thoroughly to take in the truth of it.

      Thank you, dear Evan for your blessing SpiritView Blog!!!

  8. A wonderful epiphany for the new year Evan.
    “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.”… Behold, I will do a new thing;….” Isaiah 43: 18 -19

    There have been times when I have felt restrained and imprisoned by seemingly adverse and unjust situations,– doors locked with no key to be found. Thank God for Christian Science, which reveals the way out of darkness and confinement, through fervent prayer and scientific knowing! Open doors appeared that were before unseen by the material senses,- new paths emerged, and situations that had seemed impossibly fixed faded out like bad dreams.
    We are so blessed to understand the laws of God, good, and to realize the power and presence of infinite possibilities here and now. Divine Love can make all things new.

  9. Thank you very much, Evan, and all for the wonderful and helpful inspirations!
    In relation to a steadily open door for God’s children I just remember the following verse 6, chapter 4 of II. Corinthians from this week’s lesson sermon on Christian Science: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
    I love this verse because God lets the Christlight shine in us, His wonderful image and likeness.
    Love and a joyful, spiritual progressive New Year to us a l l!♡

    1. That is a lovely statement, Uta, Thank you. Years ago I was invited to an elderly
      CS friend’s house to hear her player piano. Everything in the house was antique
      and I remember that she had pointed out the hardware on the doors. She had
      said they were an H (for Holy) along with an L (for Lord) ~ together. As I was just
      thinking about this, the thought came as to how we, too, can use this way to
      “enter the [door/]kingdom” of God’s Perfect expression where we all reflect
      qualities that shine like the Christ light, letting in only thoughts of Good.
      The player piano could be represented as God’s serenading us with
      angels’/divine thoughts of sweet harmony.

      1. Thank you, Carol, yes letting only thoughts of GOOD in, the Christlight, very important for healing!
        What does it mean, player piano?

        1. Hi Uta,
          A player piano was/is a special type of piano that plays
          automatically by itself without a person playing it. It has
          cartridges of varying music called piano rolls that play
          the tunes when chosen.

  10. Wow! Did I ever need this today. With the Christmas activities all ended, I felt at a loss. Now I can look for the open door–new understanding of living, moving and having our being in God, good. I can “move the needle” and stop rehearsing the old. As Rose said–“Getting out of the old negative mental grooves of wrong thinking is important. We can pray and have the expectancy of good; that is our divine right.”
    Thank you Evan and all.

  11. What a wonderful feast of ideas, comments and articles to study as a New Year approaches❣️
    Thank you everyone and thank you Evan for another year of spiritual refreshment and comfort.
    Happy New Thoughts going forward to everyone❣️

  12. Thank you Linda, Santa Barbara, for your comments and the mention of God’s laws. They reminded me of an article I came across yesterday. During the holidays it seems we can be made more aware of family and others that seemingly struggle with substance abuse and mental health issues. Linda isn’t referring to any specific situation, but I thought her comments were comforting and encouraging: “Open doors appeared that were before unseen by the material senses,- new paths emerged, and situations that had seemed impossibly fixed faded out like bad dreams. We are so blessed to understand the laws of God, good, and to realize the power and presence of infinite possibilities here and now. Divine Love can make all things new.” In the article below it refers to “the natural spiritual law that operates on behalf of everyone impartially”… I can acknowledge this in my prayers for all.

    “The law that moves us forward” by Susan Booth Mack Snipe:
    shttps://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/2096gjyu8tm

  13. Today’s Spiritview is just what I needed, I shall read it and all the comments a number of times during the day. Thank you!

  14. Now it is New Year’s Eve. I was not able to listen live to the Third Church of CS in NYC’s Christmas Eve lecture, so I just went to the site and saw the replay. The presentation of music and readings before the lecture were beautiful. The humility of the talk was also beautiful. The prophecy of the coming of a mighty prophet started with Moses over a thousand years before the advent of Jesus. Then the speaker went through the other prophecies and their dates—hundreds of years before the event. Then a tender look at the “feminine” viewpoint of Jesus’ birth from the gospel of Luke. I loved the idea that now, the Christ child is found within each one of us. God with us. God doing our real and only knowing. He had an example of the young man learning to listen to God, asking Him how to pray, and saving a busload of people from immanent danger. The speaker’s own listening and the deliverance of a whole group of people from not being able to work to being productive citizens.
    What a prayer for all in the New Year to be lead to the prophet within each of us—the Divine Comforter Jesus prayed would come to us. Happy New Year to all of the Spirit View family.

  15. Hi Everyone, now it is the 1.1.2024 here in Germany – much Love and happyness to all. God blesses us all steadily and eternally – nobody of His creation is left out – thank you dear God!♡

  16. Happy New Year to you, dear Uta and Everyone!
    I was reading and came across this ecumenical poem that I thought was very nice.
    It is called God Bless Your Christmas by Hazel Adams, but could apply to New Year’s as well:

    “God bless your (Christmas)/New Year wherever you are
    and keep your courage bright;
    for the spirit of man is the candle of God,
    and it burns in the darkest night.

    God bless your (Christmas)/New Year wherever you are
    and keep you strong in faith;
    for the Spirit of God is the refuge of man
    and the light is His dwelling place.”

    A lovely New Year’s Eve to all, with blessings and Love and
    all good things to come.

    1. Very very beautiful, and I love your adaptations to a New Year’s blessing. I will save this to look back on all through the year! Thank you, ☺️

  17. Thank you, dear Carol, for this very lovely Poem.. it’s full of comfort and Love, a wonderful start into the New Year, with God!♡♡♡

  18. Thank you dear Lisa and Uta. When I had copied it, I had no idea how comforting it
    would be now, along with all of the wonderful messages on this site, when I very sadly
    heard from one of my best friend’s daughter saying that my very dear friend had just passed
    on. I felt so all alone but had God’s Love wholeheartedly to turn to. It seemed/seems
    surreal and we had been lifelong friends, sharing many challenges and triumphs together.
    She is in God’s Love and care and Soul is within our hearts and always will be, with such
    a dear, cherished friend. Her/our Life is in Spirit and although she will be missed humanly
    very, very much … the Love we shared continues on.

  19. Dearest Carol, I feel with you lovingly. As God is eternal Life and we all are divine Life’s expression for ever, in reallity there is no passing on. All the wonderful qualities your friend expressed are still with you; and what a wonderful Truth you mention, that the Love she shared continues on. That helps me too, thank you !!

  20. Awww, Thank you so much, dear Uta for these very warm and comforting thoughts. I only
    hope she was able to enjoy the spiritually loving gifts I had given her with the Christ message
    that hope helped ease her seeming troubles. I am glad I was there for her however I could
    be, even though miles apart, but always in Spirit.. She was always there for me… a real True
    friend. But you are right, the wonderful qualities she expressed are still here and will never
    fade. That is very comforting. Thank you again for your very loving thoughts of caring.

    1. Carol, I just remember that Mrs. Eddy writes in Miscellanious Writings, that we will see our loved ones again later when it’s time.
      That is very comforting.♡

  21. It Is, Uta, Thank you so much! I think my dear friend Knew she would be passing on to
    another realm, right after the 2nd bw. She had often said she was “tired” and “ready”
    to flee all the seeming nonsense of this material world.
    We had so much in common. She was always so thoughtful and had for Christmas,
    sent a warm sweater, cookies for the dogs, a heart shaped swing/perch with a red
    heart on it for hummingbirds, but most special, a little ceramic “messenger” sculpture
    of a bird with a hidden message inside that reads, “A little bird told me you needed
    some Peace”, stamped on a ribbon and she had handwritten,
    “Soul Sisters Forever <3 ( and her name). That Really touches my heart! She was
    the sister I never had, although we are all sisters and brothers as children of God.
    Genuine Love lives on.
    Her angel thoughts will be cherished as they were before. She would have been
    the first to rejoice with me, like unplugging a pipe, just now and not needing to call a
    plumber, that others would think rather odd to rejoice about. But we would rejoice
    in the minor as well as the major triumphs. I have "been there with her" spiritually
    through many storms. She understood the meaning of the simple things… being
    really the most important things.
    Thank you again for your caring.

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