The Closet and the Motorcycle

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. 

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.

* The Bible - Matthew 5

** Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy