As Christian Science Committee on Publication for Nevada, I had just spent the day with another church member, meeting with our state’s senators and representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. We were discussing an important issue regarding Christian Science and the current health-care law. Our meetings were productive and fruitful. Afterward, I got my luggage and a cab.

When I got into the cab, however, I told the driver to go to the wrong airport. There was no reason for this confusion, but I was ignoring an inner voice that kept saying, “This doesn’t feel right.” Without fully realizing my mistake, I prayed all the way there, knowing that our Father-Mother God was in control, that I was never separated from Her, and that nothing could take away from the good that had been happening on this trip for the past two days.

That week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson was titled, “Adam and Fallen Man,” and within it was such a beautiful message about how we can never go astray from God and His kingdom. The only excuse I had for not listening to the angel messages telling me that I wasn’t going in the right direction, was that the “serpent,” meaning thoughts that would lead one away from listening to angels, “beguiled me” (Genesis 3:13). When I arrived at the wrong airport, there was no time to feel sorry for myself or for self-condemnation. It was very quickly clear that I was in the wrong place and I needed to act.

There was only an hour left before my flight. The other airport was 35 miles away, and it was the middle of rush hour. I called a colleague, told her the circumstances, and asked her to pray for me. She told me to get into a cab, enjoy the scenery, and let her know when I was in my seat on the plane.

I went to get another cab, and immediately there was one right there at the curb. The driver had to stop for gas and at an ATM so that I could get cash to pay him. He was very helpful. He talked to me almost nonstop, reassuring me that my mistake was not uncommon and that I should not feel bad. He said he would do his best to get me to the right airport on time. He told me he was Muslim, and part of our conversation included how we pray and how important our faith is to us. 

Close to tears a lot of the way, I kept praying to know that God was in control, and that I could not be penalized or punished, that my spiritual innocence kept me at one with God, Mind.

Throughout the whole experience there was only time for complete trust and faith.

The cab driver dropped me off at the correct airport ten minutes before my flight was to take off. I checked in and was able to move through security quickly, arriving at my gate as they were boarding the plane. I was even able to call my friend and let her know I was indeed in my seat on the plane and going home.

During the flight, and over the next couple of days, I struggled with a sense of guilt and just plain stupidity for not listening to spiritual intuition in the first place. As I prayed about the experience, I realized that God had never seen a misstep, mistake, ignorance, or confusion. He saw only good. At all times I was in His presence, always under His control. There was absolutely no lapse in His loving care, and this was clearly shown—from the phone call with my friend, to the cab driver’s companionship, to those who helped me at the airport. Throughout the whole experience there was only time for complete trust and faith, meekly praying and affirming that divine Mind knows all, sees all, and is all action. 

As I continued to pray to rid myself of self-condemnation, it became very clear that even this was an instance for revising human history and expunging the material record. Mary Baker Eddy says in her book Retrospection and Introspection, “The human history needs to be revised, and the material record expunged” (p. 22). Like any sense of inharmony or disease, once we see the unreality of discord and realize the truth, the inharmony or disease disappears. So, too, I realized, my “mistake” was really a nonevent. It had never happened in divine Mind. 

The truth was that I was never for a moment separated from God. I was right where I needed to be when I needed to be there. I could stop being so tough on myself and be grateful for God’s gracious love and care, acknowledging all the good that had been accomplished. I’m left with such gratitude for the seamless, painless, joyous connections made.