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11/30/2011 11 Comments

Alone? Or, alone with God? - A guest post by Diane Marrapodi, CSB

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_ How we answer that question is important. It can have significant consequences. 

Christ Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:10-32) provides a useful example of this very lesson.  The story focuses on a son who felt that he was his own man and completely able to deal with life on his terms.  Longing to be on his own, he requested, received, and squandered his inheritance. He had quite a time of it, and subsequently made quite a mess of things.  

But… and it’s an important but…  the Bible tells us "he came to himself”.  This is one of my favorite lines in the story! 

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__ “He came to himself”.  He woke up to realize he didn’t have to go it alone. In fact, he couldn't go it alone. He had a change of mind and heart that redirected the downward-spiraling course of his life. He recognized what had always been true. He was not alone. His father was right there to love and support him unconditionally. 

His “I can or I want to do it myself" attitude did not have the last word. Turning to his father in humility and repentance, he was received with joy, compassion, and a kiss. His father gave him a robe, a ring, shoes, and a bountiful reception.  And he was restored to his rightful place in the family. 

Jesus’ parable is more than just a good piece of story-telling.  It illustrates a spiritual fact.  We are never on our own. Our divine Parent is always present, with arms wide open, to guide, guard, help and heal us.

Contending with the struggles of daily life, we might be tempted to feel quite bleak and alone from time to time. But the prodigal story shows that thought can move beyond isolating attitudes . The self-pitying  “it all depends on me”, or the self-important “it is all about me”,  interferes with the ability to feel God’s presence. For progress, healing and peace, thought must move beyond selfish alone thoughts to an understanding of the all-present and dependable God, our Father-Mother, who is divine Love.

We are each created, by divine design, with the spiritual capacity to turn to the waiting arms of Love. Divine Love is everpresent and all-powerful.  When we seek out Love, God - purely, humbly , honestly – it is normal to feel comfort and welcome. It is normal to feel loved and satisfied. To be alone with God is to have a one-on-one relationship with divine Love that never lets us down.

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__ Just before the crucifixion, Jesus faced this question of aloneness in the garden of Gethsemane. About to face the greatest challenge of his life, Jesus asked his disciples to watch with him – to pray with him – while he went apart to pray.  When he came back, he found them sleeping.  Twice more he asked them to watch in prayer. And twice more they were discovered in a deep sleep. His cry, "What, could ye not watch with me for one hour?" points to the isolation and lack of human support he felt.

But Jesus recognized that even if those he loved were unable to stand by him, he would never be alone. He released the disciples from their responsibility and told them to sleep on and take their rest. And he took up his conversation directly and alone with God. (see Matthew, chapter.26)

Christ Jesus was not alone. He was never alone. He was alone with God, his loving Father-Mother, who would not abandon him in his hour of need.

A hymn in the Christian Science hymnal sheds light on the support, guidance and care that we can find in God’s perpetual presence:

God is with me, gently o'er me
Are His wings of mercy spread;
All His way made plain before me,
And His glory round me shed.
Safely onward
Shall my pilgrim feet be led.

God is with me, and His presence
Shall my perfect guidance be,
Till my heart that peace inherit
God alone can give to me.
His all-power
Helps and heals, and sets me free. (Hymn 81)

Within that forever relationship with God we are all secure. You are secure. You are never, ever alone. 

Diane Marrapodi, CSB is a Christian Science practitioner and teacher in Towson, Maryland. To be in touch with Diane directly, you may wish to email her at dianecsb@msn.com.  She would love to hear from you directly, or through the comments left below!

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11 Comments
Cynthia tyler
11/30/2011 04:44:43 am

thanks Diane for bringing this point out so clearly - choosing alone time with God does reveal to us that we are never alone or on our own - sometimes that time alone seems not to be of our choosing - even forced upon us- but it is so we can learn this fact that we are never really alone - what a blessing those times turn out to be!

Reply
Kathleen
11/30/2011 06:22:19 am

This message is especially meaningful after a night of fighting fear. Thank you for the comforting thoughts.
"Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you."

Reply
Diane
11/30/2011 11:16:41 am

Hi Cynthia! Thank you for your observations and comments! I know what you mean about the alone time that is of or not of our choosing. Jesus took alone with God time didn't he when he went up into a garden, boat, or mountain? We can treasure that alone with God time as he must have done. That kind of mountaintop time is so sacred and valuable isn't it? Thanks again for writing!

Reply
Diane
11/30/2011 11:20:12 am

Hi Kathleen! Your fidelity to Truth and Love necessarily incudes a victory. The very Principle that you are standing for is standing right there with you. You are never alone. Thank you for sharing!

Reply
Kay
12/1/2011 09:57:32 am

That's my favorite line, too! We could say "coming to ourselves" is a continuing prayer/discovery!

Thanks so much!

Reply
Diane
12/2/2011 09:52:46 am

Hi Kay! Thanks so much for writing! That phrase, "and he came to himself" made me stop and recognize the utter unreality of error. It is neither a momentary nor eternal state or influence. It is/has/does nothing,and is throughout eternity without a viable name, nature, character, location, time schedule, voice, vote, victim. The fact and reality of God and man's at-one-ment enables us to stand and say with understanding and authority,"Thank you God that I am not required by You to believe or live with a lie. The Christ, Truth is continually giving me something infinitely better to know, understand, and prove." Thanks again, Kay for sharing!

Reply
April
12/4/2011 03:23:20 am

God's presence turns us towards Light & Love.

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Diane
12/5/2011 08:56:35 am

Hi April! It absolutely does! Thanks for sharing!

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Kim Wiklund
12/13/2011 08:10:09 am

My dear Diane! I seemed to stumbled on this quite by "accident." It was exactly what I needed to share with a very close friend of mine who is going through a very personal trial right now. I love the way you write!

Reply
Michelle Nanouche link
12/13/2011 08:44:51 am

I have to agree with you, Kim. This is a really good message and very well done.

Good work, Diane! Can't wait to read your next one!

And thanks for writing in, Kim.

Reply
online essay writing service link
6/8/2017 04:32:49 am

All of us should allot some time for God. It's important for all of us to have a special connection with God because we all know He will never leave us no matter what kind of situation we are in. God is someone we can lie on when everyone has turned their back against us. As a parent to the younger ones, we should teach the them the value of having a constant communication with God.

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    Michelle Nanouche, Christian Science teacher, spirituality, healing, prayer

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    I have practiced Christian Science professionally in
    some form since 1979.
    But my journey with
    Christian Science started
    in a Sunday school
    where as a young child
    I was taught the Scriptures and some simple basics
    of Jesus' method of
    scientific Christian healing.
    A significant experience
    at the age of twelve
    opened my eyes to
    the great potential
    of this practice. 
    After impaling my foot
    on a nail,
    I prayed the way I had learned
    in Sunday school.
    Within moments
    the pain stopped
    and healing began.
    By the next morning the wound had disappeared completely.
    Having experienced
    the great potential
    ​of Christian Science,
    there would be no
    turning back. 

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