I am very grateful for this assignment and the readings, which have been extremely helpful. A few months ago, my dear dad passed on unexpectedly, and I suddenly felt like I was outside the kingdom of heaven, as if I was in the opposite of heaven. My human experience has been forcing me to pray more deeply and consistently to understand that we are always in the kingdom of heaven. That there is only one kingdom, where we all are, forever, comes through in this statement by Mrs. Eddy: “Where God is we can meet, and where God is we can never part” (Miscellany 131:20–21). 

Although I’ve generally found the book of Revelation a little befuddling, recently I have been struck by its description of the city that “lieth foursquare,” which makes me think of God’s kingdom as complete, lacking nothing. Mrs. Eddy writes: “This spiritual, holy habitation has no boundary nor limit, but its four cardinal points are: first, the Word of Life, Truth, and Love; second, the Christ, the spiritual idea of God; third, Christianity, which is the outcome of the divine Principle of the Christ-idea in Christian history; fourth, Christian Science, which to-day and forever interprets this great example and the great Exemplar. This city of our God has no need of sun or satellite, for Love is the light of it, and divine Mind is its own interpreter” (Science and Health 577:12–21). 

A few months ago, I read an article that contained this quote from Mrs. Eddy, “Nothing is lost that God gives” (Miscellaneous Writings 111:13). I was happy to see it in our citations – this has been helpful in working to overcome a sense of loss. Recognizing that we are currently dwelling in the kingdom of heaven reminds me that there can be no loss here. Someone said to me that my dad just has a “new address” (and I appreciate the thought behind that), but I think his real address – and mine and everyone’s – is and always has been the kingdom of heaven.

I have also found the Lord’s Prayer and its spiritual interpretation increasingly meaningful and comforting – I love its constant reminder that God is our Father (and our Mother) and that God’s kingdom is right here and now, for everyone.