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God, me, and a cross-country motorcycle trip
I have always enjoyed the pleasures of motorcycling—the exquisite freedom, the fresh environment, and all of the natural beauty surrounding us everywhere. I have traveled many pleasant miles on my bikes through the past seven decades, both alone and with a companion or two, always confident that my protection lay in God’s hands.
For the summer of 2012, I planned a rather ambitious trip from my home in the Seattle area to the Gaspé Peninsula of the Canadian East Coast, then down through the Northeast United States into Virginia and the Blue Ridge Parkway, into Tennessee and the beautifully manicured Natchez Trace Parkway, through Texas to visit my daughter, and back home through the Wyoming backcountry. I shared my plans with my son and daughter and several others, including a friend who rode through British Columbia with me in 2011.
Though I rode solo on this trip, my two constant companions were the "Daily Prayer,” given by Mary Baker Eddy in the Manual of The Mother Church: “ ‘Thy kingdom come;’ let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!” (p. 41 ). I also turned to Mrs. Eddy’s statement from the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action” (p. 454 ).
These thoughts were constantly uplifting me and guiding me in choices I made along the way. God—divine Truth, Life, and Love—was the ruling power, providing the strength needed for the trip, and Love—illumining, designating, and leading the way—was a far better guide than the sometimes unreliable GPS unit I had on my bike. I would frequently recite spiritual truths out loud and receive refreshing guidance and support at once. It was wonderful!
There were a couple of distinct moments of protection from crossing traffic on the trip, and the wonderful return of my lost backpack, which included my passport, funds, and overnight essentials. In the instance of the missing backpack, I held in my thoughts that my motives for this trip—seeing and enjoying so much of these great countries—were right and that my momentary inattention could not ruin this joy or leave me stuck somewhere in Vermont! Often, when feeling lost or wondering which way to go, I would say out loud, “Love, please illumine, designate, and lead the way.” And Love always did.
After 35 days and 9,000 miles, I returned home just three days before my 90th birthday—proof of the efficacy of Christian Science!
—John N. Heater, Bainbridge Island, Washington, US