“Sit down on the green grass”

When sudden chaos threatens to take over our day, there is a divine law - or Principle of good - capable of meeting the need. Christ Jesus multiplied loaves and fish to feed over 5000 people at once. Just before, he instructed his disciples to have everyone sit down by groups on green grass. (see Mark 6:39) Various Bible commentaries give different interpretations for why:

• perhaps to keep them from wandering off looking for food;
• or for crowd control;
• or to prevent the stronger from overwhelming the weaker in a chaotic rush for food.

Then there is my favorite:

• Perhaps it was to prepare them to be served.

I picture the crowd turning from the chaos and fear of being without, to sitting down and quietly preparing for something remarkable to meet their need.

Writing of the Christian Science, or divine law of good - that Christ Jesus understood, and that allowed him to meet human needs in remarkable ways, Christian Science discoverer Mary Baker Eddy wrote: “It is unwise to doubt if reality is in perfect harmony with God, divine Principle,  — if Science, when understood and demonstrated, will destroy all discord, — since you admit that God is omnipotent; for from this premise it follows that good and its sweet concords have all-power. (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, 130:9)

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One day recently when the temperature hit its peak where I work in Paris, the departure board at a major train station indicated that all trains to many towns, including mine, had been cancelled. Then a sudden power outage knocked out the departure and track screens throughout the station, preventing anyone from knowing where the remaining trains were going. Chaos ensued. There was no staff on hand to help and audio announcements were unintelligible.
 
I remembered Jesus’ instruction to sit down on the green grass and realized I needn’t be disturbed by the extreme heat and confusion. Rather than dashing left and right to search out a train, I went to one of the 27 tracks with unmarked trains and sat down on the train parked there. As it pulled away, I heard the announcement that I was on a high-speed train to a destination an hour beyond my home, with no indication whether we would be stopping along the way. Concerned, I prayed. Then I again remembered “Sit down on the green grass”, which reminded me to stay calm and prepare for something remarkable. After about twenty minutes, the train slowed to a stop in the town next to mine. Upon exiting, a bus pulled in front of me that would pass by my apartment.  In all, my trip time was reduced by half. Remarkable.
 
Good and its sweet concords are the product of the omnipotent Principle that is God. Understanding this can bring calm to chaos, guide our steps, and bring out remarkable solutions to any concerns.

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