Always there is music

Celestial music, that is - a harmony of thought and feeling; intuitively right and graceful action; love. Most people have responded to this ''music'' at times, but perhaps many of us hear it only intermittently. Can we find a way to bring more uninterrupted harmony into our lives?

In the Biblical book of Job, creation is recognized as taking place ''when the morning stars sang together.'' n1 Such harmony, Christian Science teaches, is the spiritual reality of all creation, the present fact of man's being as God's likeness. This harmony can be perceived, whatever the situation; and such perception leads to the correction of inharmonious elements and relationships.

n1 Job 38:7.

If we're confronted by angry words, we can respond with the ''soft answer (that) turneth away wrath.'' n2 We can hear the Christ, God's message of harmony , and let it inspire our response. If the anger comes as our own thoughts, even our own words, these can be drowned out by a determined turning to the celestial music inherent in our true Christly consciousness. And as our thoughts are harmonized, so are circumstances.

n2 Proverbs 15:1.

Because God is good and the one infinite Mind, all true thought, feeling, and action reflect Christly concord. One can experience this harmony right in the midst of discord. We might even liken this uninterrupted harmony to the beautiful music one would hear if he were listening to a Chopin prelude on a ''Walkman'' (a miniature stereo cassette player with earphones) while cleaning the kitchen. Harmony would replace the noisy garbage disposal.

But true, spiritual harmony does not just shut out unpleasant sights and sounds. The voice of harmony is the voice of spiritual reality, exposing the powerlessness - the nothingness - of discord. Keeping our ears open to this reality, through prayer, we live in accord with it and thus make our contact with events a harmonizing influence.

In the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scripturesm by Mary Baker Eddy, n3 we read, '' 'Let there be light,' is the perpetual demand of Truth and Love, changing chaos into order and discord into the music of the spheres.'' n4 When we obey this ''perpetual demand of Truth and Love'' - of God - to be spiritually enlightened, we experience a healing harmony that can be found in no other way.

n3 Mrs. Eddy is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.

n4 Science and Health, p. 255.

And how do we become spiritually enlightened? Setting out to learn about God, Spirit, through Scriptural study may be a first step. Concurrently with such study we can turn moment by moment from strictly material evidence and ask, ''What does this have to do with divine Love or eternal Truth?'' Such questioning isn't escapism. Rather, it opens the way for spiritual understanding to replace simply mortal conclusions and awaken a slumbering consciousness to the harmony of divine reality.

Moving in the light of this understanding, we find exhilarating rhythms in our days. We hear celestial music even above clanging garbage trucks or above the cry of our own disappointments. We hear harmony when ominous quiet is prophesying gloom and dulling our days. Even though office noises or the clamoring of willful desires may make it difficult to think, there is always the voice of the Christ, clear and calm and right.

While now we may need ''earphones'' - prayer - to bring in clearly this ''music'' and shut out discord, there will be a time when all we'll ever hear is the sound of harmony. As today we listen to spiritual harmony and live in consonance with it, we are bringing that time nearer. As we seek the Christly understanding that God controls all, we can at this moment witness harmony in place of inharmony.

How grateful we can be that no matter how strident the discord, God's harmony is always here, always the spiritual reality. The Christ can be heard saying ''Peace, be still'' n5 to rushing waves and fearful thoughts. The promise is that some day the order of true creation will be perceived so clearly that all mankind will walk in the harmony of this rhythm.

n5 See Mark 4:37-39.

The morning stars are singing together. Hear them? DAILY BIBLE VERSE The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:2