I
admire people that can pray extemporaneously and uplift the listeners, but when
I am asked to give the blessing, or an audible prayer in a group setting, I almost always invite everyone to join me in
the Lord’s Prayer, that wonderful gift from Jesus that covers all our needs for
God's blessings, putting the prayer in his words and getting me out of the
way.
To me prayer is a silent, solitary thing, a close communion with the Divine Mind, a very private, heart to heart connection, a "privileged communication" in today’s legal jargon. Jesus told his followers to pray in secret. He counseled not to make a big show of praying, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” and… “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” *.
The Quiet Closet... Birds Optional |
"Closet prayer", earnestly communing with God in the privacy of our own thoughts, working to
silence the material senses, shutting out the clanging bells of worry and concern, silencing the ceaseless demands of the world to “conform” and to accept the mortal view
of a temporary life experience is healing in and of itself.
This
quote from the chapter on Prayer in Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures*, a book used by many as a companion to the Bible while delving into
the deep spiritual message the Bible gives us, says, speaking of “the closet”
referred to by Jesus, “The closet typifies the sanctuary of Spirit, the door of
which shuts out sinful sense but lets in Truth, Life, and Love. To enter into
the heart of prayer, the door of the erring senses must be closed. Lips must be
mute and materialism silent, that man may have audience with Spirit, the divine
Principle, Love, which destroys all error”. **
Even
though the closet Jesus describes is a quiet mental place, a place where we can
enter, shut the door and be in God’s presence, it doesn’t mean a small cloakroom
with a dim light!!! It can be anywhere as long as you are alone
with God's thoughts. Jesus often went up into a mountainside or desert place to
be in his "closet", but for me it can even be on a motorcycle.
Recently I had a very painful condition in my foot. It had been bothering me for weeks and it was at the point where I could hardly walk. I had prayed to see myself as God’s perfect reflection, remembering Jesus statement "Be Ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."* But the pain persisted. This day it was really troubling me and today was the day that I was scheduled to be at a Pet Adoption event about 60 miles away.
It was a beautiful sunny day and I decided to ride my motorcycle. All the way to the event my foot was painful and I questioned the wisdom of making the trip as I was becoming concerned. I did manage to work at the event for several hours, sitting down as often as I could. Finally the pain was really getting to me so I started for home.
Recently I had a very painful condition in my foot. It had been bothering me for weeks and it was at the point where I could hardly walk. I had prayed to see myself as God’s perfect reflection, remembering Jesus statement "Be Ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."* But the pain persisted. This day it was really troubling me and today was the day that I was scheduled to be at a Pet Adoption event about 60 miles away.
It was a beautiful sunny day and I decided to ride my motorcycle. All the way to the event my foot was painful and I questioned the wisdom of making the trip as I was becoming concerned. I did manage to work at the event for several hours, sitting down as often as I could. Finally the pain was really getting to me so I started for home.
Now
riding a motorcycle can be a perfect “closet”
scene. The sun was shining, the air warm, the motor was throbbing, I
relaxed into that state of mind that maybe only motorcyclists can understand
and appreciate. In the closet of thought, alone with God in my consciousness, I
reached out for healing, expressed my love for the day, for the wonderful dogs
and cats we had taken, my appreciation for the people who were working the
event, the kind people who came to look at the animals, and for
PetSmart who let us hold the event at their store.
As
I rode down the interstate I remembered a meaningful quote from Science and
Health. The quotation said: "If we look to the
body for pleasure, we find pain; for Life, we find death; for Truth, we find
error; for Spirit, we find its opposite,
matter. Now reverse this action. Look
away from the body into Truth and Love, the Principle of all happiness,
harmony, and immortality. Hold
thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring
these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts." **
Encouraged
by those words, I acknowledged that as
God's image and likeness I was a spiritual idea, that matter and foot had
nothing to do with my happiness or well being. My heart was overwhelmed, filled
with gratitude and Love for Life and life’s lessons, , I was steeped in a sense
of peace and oneness with the Father, feeling in harmony with God’s universe
and knowing that “All is Well”.
I
soon arrived at home, got off of the bike, completely healed. The pain never
returned. I will never forget that simple example of being in the closet,
feeling God’s presence, experiencing the Love and caring, and walking away
free.
Another example of how God's presence brings healing to our daily lives.
Another example of how God's presence brings healing to our daily lives.
* The Bible - Matthew 5
3 comments:
I love it, Pat! So inspiring! I have recently started riding a bike after not having ridden in 20 years. It came to me to buy one and I have found my rides are so freeing and inspired and healing. Closets on the go! Love it. Thanks, as always, for your clear thought and genuine sharing.
Oh, p.s. I'm talking about a bicycle (the old fashioned kind with foot brakes), not a motor bike!
Laura
Hey, a bike is a bike!! The same sense of freedom, the air and the smells of the flowers, trees and grass. I love the feeling of being in the world but alone with my thoughts. I also like speed so a bicycle isn't going to get me there!!
I can relax on a m/c, but I have to be careful not to get TOO relaxed. I once went to sleep going 75 miles per hour going across the desert in Nevada. So... I am more alert now!!! Sorta wakes you up with a start!
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