Guardian angels

If someone mentioned ''guardian angels'' to you, he might be referring to the group of crime fighters with that name. On the other hand, he might be talking about the angels of theology and literature. Their mission, too, has frequently been to protect from harm. But they are usually depicted as some form of supernatural being with wings.

We get quite a different concept of angels, though, as we gain a spiritual sense of the Bible's message. Angels - not the conjectural kind with wings, but God's pure thoughts - played an enormous part in the birth of Christ Jesus. It was an angel that announced to Mary that she was to bear a son and call his name Jesus.n1 It was an angel that spoke to Joseph, saying, ''Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.''n2 It was an angel that brought the news of the Saviour's birth to the watchful shepherds - an angel so dazzlingly bright that ''the glory of the Lord shone round about them.''n3

n1 See Luke 1:31.

n2 Matthew 1:20.

n3 Luke 2:9.

Angels still bring messages to us. They are always present to guard, to guide, and to bless. They come to us in a form we can best understand and in a way that most effectively meets our need.

The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, says: ''Angels are not etherealized human beings, evolving animal qualities in their wings; but they are celestial visitants, flying on spiritual, not material, pinions. Angels are pure thoughts from God, winged with Truth and Love, no matter what their individualism may be.''n4

n4 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 298.

These angels are always with us. Where God, divine Mind, is, His thoughts must be. And God is everywhere. ''He fills all space,'' Mrs. Eddy writes, ''and it is impossible to conceive of such omnipresence and individuality except as infinite Spirit or Mind.''n5

n5 Ibid., Pg. 331.

Does this mean, then, that our every thought is an angel message from God? No!While the spiritual truth is that God is the only Mind of man, that man is the very image of this Mind, we are proving this only in small degrees. Not because there actually is another, evil mind, but because we mistakenly accept the belief that there is. Paul called this ''the carnal mind,'' and said that it was ''enmity against God.''n6

n6 Romans 8:7.

So in proportion as one understands the spiritual truth that God, good, is the only Mind and denies the existence of any other, he begins to recognize angels - ''no matter what their individualism may be.'' They may come to us in a burst of sudden inspiration. Or they may come more quietly - in a letter from a friend, a phone call, or a healing, enlightening thought. But they are always available - even in emergencies - if we listen for and obey their directions.

A businessman proved this recently. Everyone had left for the day. He was alone in his shop when two young men came in. One stood directly in front of him. The other one so close in back that he could not move either way. He felt a hand on his wallet. Then he heard an angel say, ''There is just love here!'' Instantly another angel came. This time he repeated the message out loud. ''Come on boys. Let's go. I was just closing up.'' The three then walked out together. There was no robbery. No one was hurt. All three had followed an angel out - the one knowingly, the other two unknowingly.

The Bible tells of angels leading men and women out of all kinds of dangerous situations. They still do! DAILY BIBLE VERSE Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying This is the way, walk ye in it. Ssarah 30:2130:21