It is heart rending to read about the thousands of refugees fleeing the ravages of war in the Mid-East in search of a safe place to live. The image of the dead boy found on a beach in Turkey captured the world’s attention and accentuated just how desperate these people are. The refugees certainly need our prayers and open hearts to help find their way to a resting place they can trust.
In my prayers, I pray to see them in the presence of God no matter where they are standing at the moment. To see that they are not alone, that God goes before them and that divine Love prepares a path for them to walk that leads to a home they can trust. To see that they reflect the Mind of God that sees solutions, opportunities, ways out of suffering and paths to safety and peace; to know that they are not deserted and left alone to rely solely upon their own devices; to see that they have as much value and worth as anyone else in the world, that they have a rightful place to be, and a place to live where they are wanted, cared for and cherished; to see that there is room for everyone in God’s wide open earth; and to see that they are not a threat to others, but a blessing to be appreciated.
I also pray for peace in the Mid-East. That war does not have to be the rule there. That the residents of that region can learn to compromise in ways that bless everyone, that they can be inclusive and learn to live side by side with people of differing views and religious beliefs. To see that selfishness, self-righteousness, and religious elitism do not reign. To see that the one Mind rules and provides common ground for all to unite in one common brotherhood.
People may flee their countries, but they can never flee the presence of God. God goes before them and follows behind them. God is always with them, an ever-present refuge no matter where their feet are planted at the moment.
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of trouble; he protects those who take refuge in him”
Nahum, 1:7, NRSV
Thank you. I’ve been struggling with ways to see this differently. This helps.
My heart goes out to the cute, innocent boy Alan Kurdi, a 3 year old refugee, lying lifeless on the shore in the coastal town of Bodrum, Turkey. This picture has moved many people to take the right steps to avoid such occurrences in future. The cute little boy surely is in the embrace of his loving divine father. Nobody ever can be outside of God’s power and presence, His love and His care. But imagine the state of the human parents. They must be feeling so helpless and so miserable. God the loving father and mother will care and comfort them certainly.
Evans prayer for them is very touching and reassuring. The refugees do need our prayers. God is their refuge surely and their most high habitation. God will give His angels charge over them to preserve, protect them and make radiant room for them. They are in God’s kingdom so never deprived of anything whatsoever. They have a rightful place in the kingdom, fed and nourished, cared for, watched over and beloved of the loving God.
Thank you Evan for the insights you are sharing on this topic. It is sometimes difficult to see the spiritual truth of an unfortunate situation like this and it really helps that Christian Science offers the true perspective on the reality of God’s idea of man, woman, and child.
Thank you for your loving insight and caring, prayerful ideas on how we each can support and uplift thought to help bring solutions to this challenging world situation. God’s love is unconditional and includes every one. Taking a stand that each person is of value and worth in the world, that these refugees have a rightful place to be, and a place to live where they are wanted, cared for and cherished and that there is room for everyone in God’s wide open earth where they are not a threat to others, but a blessing to be appreciated is worth our time and prayer. There are answers and solutions and God, divine Mind will guide us all in prayer and cherishing these people as they seek safety and a peaceful sense of home.
Prayers for humane solutions are essential, but it’s also helpful to learn the facts of this crisis:
https://refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpress.com/refugee-resettlement-fact-sheets/
I believe that the absolute facts that we deeply need to know have already been stated by Evan.
I don’t feel i need to know every detail of the error to effectively pray.
Sometimes I think we see too much, watch too much news, get too deep into mortal mind’s seeming cause and effect and forget what is really governing every situation……..Love , our Father-Mother omnipotent God
” hold thought steadfastly to the enduring the good and the truth… “. MBE
Thank you Evan for sharing your prayer.
“The blind leading the blind, both would fall.” S&H MBE
“Not to know that a false claim is false, is to be in danger of believing it…proper knowledge of evil and it subtle workings where in evil seems as real as good, is indispensable…error found out is 2/3rds destroyed…” Misc. MBE
Amen
and Amen!
Lovely, and so helpful! Heartfelt healing thanks Evan!
Thank you, Evan. To know they aren’t alone is so helpful. And like the Israelites, who were so lovingly guided and cared for by Divine Love, they will find their True Home. That is their birthright.
Ps 139:7-11 is one of my favorites and I think applies to this situation. Thank you Evan for bringing this topic to our thought. It is a primary area that I want to work through in my own thought for world peace. You express this thought exactly as I would want for myself and I think is the basis for all spiritual life governed by God.
The Bible is a repeat of what’s happening. Isn’t this a repeat of what Moses did for the Israelites on their way to freedom? We live the Bible over and over again. It’s not what has happened but what is happening. As the saying goes; “HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.” And that’s why History is the #1 subject to learn.
Beautiful. Thanks so much
“His arm encircles me, and mine, and all” and this certainly includes the refugees. I found the news that there is a billionaire wanting to purchase an island to give the refugees a home and a sustainable life. It sounds like a good solution – I hope it’s feasible!
The blog today and the one from yesterday dovetail so nicely. I’m often tempted to make a reality of something and then pray to “change” that reality to something “better”. Or to think God needs MY help! So when asked to pray for this situation, I first wondered whether my prayers would make a difference? But then it occurred to me that God never created a situation from which man needs to seek refuge. The little boy on the beach is as alive today as he was a year ago. Therefore, the purpose of prayer is to help me to see those truths clearly.
Then it occurred to me that God acts through man, because man is God’s expression of Himself. When I am clearly knowing the truth, then I can better express that truth, better express God. That is a very important benefit to prayer! My praying to see the truth about the Middle East refugee situation will help me to free refugees that I experience daily who are trying to flee discordant situations. And that can take action in all sorts of ways…providing practical assistance to someone I see in need, being patient with others, specifically praying with someone to heal (reveal the truth about) some situation in their lives, etc.
It can also take action in choosing whom I will vote for next for President of the United States. It has occurred to me recently, that I should vote for the candidate that best expresses love towards his/her fellow man/woman. Not the candidate that makes the best threats towards other countries or best attacks the other candidates. The world needs more expression of love in each of our individual lives, not less. So what better factor to use when voting for elected officials! Electing leaders that have a deep sense of love and concern for the welfare of others will prevent refugee situations from occurring in the future.
Would that everyone would vote for the person who expresses Love the best!
Hymn 278 is so strengthening and comforting
“Pilgrim on earth, home and heaven are within thee,
Heir of the ages and child of the day.
Cared for, watched over, beloved and protected,
Walk thou with courage each step of the way.
Truthful and steadfast though trials betide thee,
Ever one thing do thou ask of thy Lord,
Grace to go forward, wherever He guide thee,
Gladly obeying the call of His word.
Healed is thy hardness, His love hath dissolved it,
Full is the promise, the blessing how kind;
So shall His tenderness teach thee compassion,
So all the merciful, mercy shall find.”
Thank you, Sandy 🙂
Thank you Evan, this is a real keeper to study and restudy. Love-reflected-in-Love and Brian, thank you for your comments.
In all “crisis” situations that we experience, individually or collectively, the need is to GET CLEAR in our thinking and praying, in order to help not only maintain our own peace and health but to contribute meaningfully to that of others. This blog-site is very helpful in this regard. Thank you, Evan, for your fine thinking and praying and expressions of love. Thank you, God, for shining Light into what seems to be a darkened world. We know this Light of Truth, being glimpsed humanly, is revealing to us immediate answers to our perils-of-belief—removing them, and restoring us all to a better understanding our permanent connection to You, infinite divine Love.
In truth, there are no “homeless wanderers we may believe are refugees,” lost, uncared for… God’s idea, man is permanently safe, at home, complete–no matter what human belief may believe to the contrary. To know this, as scientific Christians, enables us to prove this, to see it, to experience it in the here and now, proportionately to our fidelity to this fact.
My prayer is to do my part.
I thank you all for doing yours.
Trust will win this battle, because it has already won.
amen
Correction : The last line should read: “Truth will win this battle, because
It has already won.
amen
When including in my prayers these dear loved children of God, I find comfort in this thought from Joshua 1:3 – “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you.” Every step forward is guided and guarded by God.
I prayed with last weeks lesson citations: s&H 517:30 & 475:6(man).. Replacing “man” with “refuges” I found it covered the situation well. Thank you, Evan , for your blog and for gently reminding and encouraging us in our Christian duties and obligations!