RENEWAL

A year ago, I wrote a blog titled “Keep the Faith” after the mass shooting tragedy of 10 innocent victims including a local police officer at a Kings Soopers supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, my hometown.  #BoulderStrong continues as there’s still much need for healing and renewal in the community. Prayers and good deeds continue. https://www.widehorizon.org/?s=keep+the+faith

On my daily commute I continue to see the sad remnants of destruction from the massive Marshall Fire in Louisville and Superior that occurred on December 30, 2021. It burned 6,026 acres, several neighborhoods and destroyed 1,084 buildings and houses. Although there continues to be a great need of healing and restoration, and the cleanup process has been noticeably slow, there are signs of renewal, such as new green grasses appearing on the burn areas. The community support of “80027 Strong” has been remarkable. Prayer continues to be part of my daily commute.

There’s so much to pray about each day, including for so many innocent people and children adversely effected and uprooted by the unprovoked war in the Ukraine. There’s such a great need for safety, freedom, healing and renewal.

Yet, I believe prayer is power. Faith is power. Hope is power. Love is power. I also believe Love heals.

Did you notice there’s a lot going on in the month of March? Signs of renewal and growth, recognition of Women’s History, Ash Wednesday, Daylight Saving Time, St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Equinox, even a national Puppy Day, and NCAA March Madness!

Renewal has made its way into my blogs in various forms and references. It is an essential quality of life. Here are some definitions:

RENEWAL—the act of forming anew; regeneration; revival; restoration.

RENEW—to renovate; to restore to a former state; to rebuild; to reestablish; to revive; to resume; to transform; to implant holy affections in the heart; to regenerate; to begin again; to make new; to make fresh or vigorous.

The Christian Science Hymnal includes these lines from hymn 218 by Samuel Longfellow: “O Life that maketh all things new…The seekers of the Light are one…One in the larger thought of God…The wide horizon’s grander view…The Life that maketh all things new.” Such poems and songs of prayer lead to clearer views, uplifted thought and fuller lives. I’m grateful to say this has been the theme hymn of Wide Horizon for many years!

The following are from my collections of writings, documents, memos, and some from Wide Horizon staff members, including Christian Science nurses, who do their best to selflessly work to enable others to feel renewed and experience spiritual healing, while being cared for at Wide Horizon and our sister organizations throughout the world.

• Renewal is a continual, humble consciousness of God’s presence.
• The power of prayer renews each moment.
• Renewal is devotion to Spirit.
• Renewal of Spirit takes place in thought, consciousness.
• Renewal is letting go of the old ways of thinking.
• Put off the old (material sense); put on the new (spiritual sense).
• Renewal is a “fresh start” of holding to the divine with humility.
• Renewal in the church or community begins with pure selfless love.
• Renewal is a warm heart filled with love.
• Generosity of heart increases renewal.
• Renewal is continuous spiritualization of thought.
• Renewal affirms the innocence of God’s man made in Spirit’s image.
• Nature shows us multifarious signs of renewal each day.
• Renewal acknowledges what we know that is true.
• Renewal is being receptive to Christly love which regenerates.
• Today is the first day of the beginning of your life.

Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science, wrote in her seminal work Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “The Bible teaches transformation of the body by the renewal of Spirit” (p. 241).

Several of my favorite verses regarding renewal from the Bible are:

• “[The Lord] satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.” Psalms 103:5
• “Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles: they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
• “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10
• “…be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

Remember, dear friend, “What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds” (Science and Health, p. 4).

For with loving thoughts, good deeds, consecrated prayer, selfless service, and right actions, we can:

R estore
E verything
N ow
E ternally
W ell

D. Brian Boettiger