Home

Perhaps few words in the English language carry with them greater possibilities and breadth of vision than does the word “home.” From the veriest child to the man of many years it speaks in a multitude of tones. To be sure it may sometimes be linked in thought with disappointed hopes and shattered purposes, but nevertheless the ideal home still stands as a synonym for protection, safety, peace,—for the quiet opportunity of pursuing high desires, for rest from turbulence, for comfort and assurance,—for that which strengthens the understanding of good and lessens the belief in evil. Around this sense of home there cluster an innumerable company of angels, and there is no one in all the world who does not contemplate the thought of it with at least some degree of consideration, if not with positive interest. Its influence reaches out through every one’s life, molding and controlling in a variety of ways. Hence, there is no ideal which should be more carefully guarded or more tenderly cherished.

Every one longs to realize the happiness for which home is intended to stand, and men have always been endeavoring to gain such realization. The so-called human mind, with its material concepts, has approached this subject, as it does every other, from the material viewpoint and thus has fallen far short of winning anything like the satisfaction it has expected. Because it has measured its ideals of home largely in square feet and multiplicity of persons and things, it has often found itself disappointed and disheartened. The illumination of Christian Science with its teaching that “all is Mind and Mind’s idea” (Science and Health, p. 492), strikes the axe at the root of this as of all difficulties. To begin to discern that home is really made up of mental qualities instead of material objects, and therefore is to be experienced rather than manufactured, sets one’s thoughts at work in a new direction.

Although it has already been recognized that the rude hut may embrace within its modest walls more of the elements of the true home than does the stately mansion, since all that matter can give has again and again proved powerless to bring lasting satisfaction, and although mortal mind acknowledges that its best concept of home is but fleeting, there still remains the necessity of improving the beliefs of the world on this subject in order that even the human sense of home may be placed upon a better foundation. This can only be done through gaining a more spiritual concept which will tend to purify and exalt where there has been falsity and debasement and which will render yet finer what has already touched some loftier heights.

In Christian Science we learn that no true sense of home can ever be won except by seeking divine Principle as the source of all good and by bringing one’s every thought of home into line with the unchanging law of Principle. Every heart desires home and the companionship which is implied by the term, but while Christian Science teaches us to expect that our every righteous desire will be fulfilled, it does not in any way instruct us to outline as to the way in which this is to be done. For each individual to seek to establish in his own thinking such qualities as are reflections of divine Mind will insure for him a constantly increasing understanding of what the highest sense of home includes.

In “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” (p. 589) Mrs. Eddy speaks of “home” and “heaven” as synonymous, and in the light of Christian Science it is easily seen that since home is one’s dwelling place and the real man dwells in the heaven of divine Mind,—for, as Jesus said, “the kingdom of God is within you,”—if one’s own mental concept of home is right, then it must be divine. When we allow this divine idea of home to unfold in our thought, a breadth of possibilities before unrecognized presents itself. We see that even for to-day it includes all the qualities which would render our associations with each other so considerate and loving, so intelligent and wise, that all companionship would be invested with helpfulness and joy.

To the consciousness thus governed, temporary circumstances and surroundings will become of secondary importance; for with love in the heart outward conditions will necessarily tend toward the ideal. A wonderful sense of freedom will also result; for having learned to look to God, divine Mind and His ideas, for home and companionship, one will find that in God’s love there are no homeless ones, and dwelling there, one will always find his home with him wherever he may be placed. This exalted sense of freedom and spiritual understanding is at the same time eminently practical to-day. It will cherish and ennoble every least thought of true human relationship, bringing out a better and better sense of home in the present hour, until all men shall have risen to see the truth of what Mrs. Eddy tells us on page 254 of Science and Health, “Pilgrim on earth, thy home is heaven; stranger, thou art the guest of God.”